PROCEEDINGS
of the
WORLD ASSEMBLY
of the
World Council
for the Welfare of the Blind
August 1-10, 1979
M.C. MIGEL MEMORIAL LIBRARY
American Foundation for the Blind
15 West 16th Street, New York, New York
10011
PROCEEDINGS
of the
WORLD ASSEMBLY
of the
World Council
for the Welfare of the Blind
held in
Antwerp, Belgium
August 1-10, 1979
Theme — "COOPERATION"
WORLD COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE BLIND
ORGANISATION MONDIALE POUR LA PROMOTION
SOCIALE DES AVEUGLES
Registered office
58 Avenue Bosquet
75007, Paris, France
Certain of the papers included in these Proceedings were originally
delivered in languages other than English and, while every care has
been taken to ensure accuracy in translation, it is possible that some
variations from the original structure and sense may have occurred.
Furthermore, certain papers prepared in the English language were
delivered by speakers not entirely familiar with that language. Some
editing has therefore been required. Our apologies are submitted for
any inaccuracies that may have resulted therefrom. Due to lack of
space, it has been necessary also in some cases to abridge the addresses.
We feel sure that the speakers will appreciate the need for these slight
editorial changes.
Printed in England by Wildings of Shrewsbury Ltd., Windsor Place, Shrewsbury
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
BACKGROUND OF THE CONFERENCE 1
PROGRAMME COMMITTEE 3
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS
Delegates 3
Official Participants 10
Observers 14
OPENING SESSION
Official Guests
Welcome and Greetings
Response by the President
Keynote Address by Mr. Robert K. A. Gardiner
In Memorium — A Tribute by the President
Messages
Election of Committees
21
22
26
28
32
33
34
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 1
"Cooperation in Human Rights"
The Rights of the Disabled
Mr. Esko Kosunen 35
The Rights of the BHnd Child
Dr. Michael Irwin 41
The Right to Understanding
Mr. Pedro Zurita 45
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 2
"Cooperation within Blind Welfare"
Report of the Committee for Stimulating Organizational
Cooperation
Mr. Arne Husveg, Chairman 48
Submission of Joint WCWB/IFB Officers Resolution ... 50
Dialogue Between WCWB and IFB
Mr. Boris V. Zimin 53
Report on Cooperation between WCWB and IFB
Dr. Fatima Shah 58
BUSINESS SESSION 1
President's Report 63
Secretary General's Report on Membership 70
Treasurer's Report 71
Report of the Consultative Committee on Education
Mr. W. Stein 76
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 3
"Cooperation in Development"
Report of the Committee on Aid to Developing Countries
Mr. Harold G. Roberts 80
Mobilization of Aid Resources
Mr. W. Stein 83
PAGE
Cooperation of the Recipient country
Mr. Ismaila Konate 88
The Blind in Disaster Situations
Mrs. EHsa Molina de Stahl 90
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 4
"Cooperation in Identifying Priorities in National Planning and
in the Development of Professional Personnel"
Report of the Committee on Social Development
Mr. Svend Jensen 95
Planning in Eastern European Countries
Mr. Yanaky Gradev 102
Planning Within the Context of Development
Miss J. S. Attah 107
Professional Cooperation :
— The Work of the American Association of Workers for
the Blind
Mr. Jerry Dunlap 114
— The Work of the Latin American Organization for the
Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired
Mr. Hernando Pradilla Cobos 123
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 5
"Cooperation in Achieving Independence"
Report of the Committee on Sport Activities
Dr. Helmut Pielasch 126
Aims of Sport for the Disabled
Sir Ludwig Guttmann 129
Long Cane Technique — Orientation and Mobility Services
Mr. J. K. Holdsworth 133
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 6
"Regional Cooperation"
Report of the Committee on African Affairs
Mr. Ismaila Konate 144
Report of the Committee on Asian Affairs
Mr. Suresh C. Ahuja 147
Report of the Committee on European Affairs
Mr. Andre Nicolle 152
Report of the Committee on Latin American Affairs
Mr. Hernando Pradilla Cobos 156
Report of the Committee on Middle East Affairs
Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim 159
Report of the Committee on North American and Oceanian
Affairs
Mr. Ross C. Purse 166
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 7
"Interdisciplinary Cooperation in Preventing Blindness"
Report on the Prevention of Blindness and on WCWB Parti-
cipation in the Work of the International Agency for the
Prevention of Blindness
Sir John Wilson, C.B.E 168
PAGE
The Potential Impact of Research on Reducing World
Blindness
Dr. Carl Kupfer 172
Preventing Blindness in Africa
Dr. A. M. Awan 175
Attacking Blinding Malnutrition
Miss Susan T. Pettiss, Ph.D. 177
Mass Treatment for the Restoration of Sight
Dr. Rajendra T. Vyas 182
BUSINESS SESSION 2
Report by the Treasurer on the Financial Situation and Budget
Prospects for 1980/84 185
Report from the Executive Committee on Amendments to the
Constitution 188
Report of the Louis Braille Memorial Committee
Mr. Andre Nicolle 189
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 8
"Cooperation in RehabiHtation and Employment"
Report of the Committee on Rehabilitation, Training and
Employment
Mr. Bengt Lindqvist 193
Models of Basic Rehabilitation
Captain H. J. M. Desai 199
Africa's Village Farmers
Mr. Ronald J. Mbekeani 212
The Role of Special Enterprises in Solving Problems of
Social and Vocational Rehabilitation of the BHnd
Mr. VassiH A. Fedorenko 221
The Challenge of Urban Unemployment of the Blind
Mr. N. Lorenzo Navarro 227
ILO Statement
Mr. Karl Gunther 232
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 9
"Cultural Cooperation"
Report of the Committee on Cultural Affairs
Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill 234
Report of the Sub-Committee on Braille Music Codes
Professor G. Vassio 244
Information Through the Spoken Word
Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi 247
Technology of and for the Blind
Mr. Jim Bronson 249
The Economic Production of Basic Equipment for Blind
People
Mr. Cedric W. Garland 253
The Economic Production of Basic Equipment
Mr. Marvin Berkowitz, Ph. D 258
UNESCO/WCWB Cooperation Towards Re-publication of
"World Braille Usage"
Mrs. Helga Barraud 264
PAGE
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 10
"Cooperation in Fulfilling Unmet Needs"
Report of the Committee on Services to the Deaf-Blind
Mr. Anders Arnor 265
Identifying Unmet Needs in Canada
Mr. Ross C. Purse 268
Special Needs of Blind Women
Mrs. Doris M. Anin 273
Meeting the Challenge of Multiple Handicap
Dr. Franz Sonntag 279
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 11
"Cooperation in Developing Leadership"
The Development of Leadership in the field of Work for the
Bhnd in the 80's
Mr. Robert J. Winn, Ph.D 283
Leadership in the Area of the Blind
Mr. Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri 289
Cooperation in Developing Leadership
Mr. Kevin Carey 297
Cooperation in Developing Leadership
Mr. Ivan Ho 300
Making the Right Decision
Mr. Robert Mercer 302
BUSINESS SESSION 3
Report of the Resolutions Committee 304
Report of the Study Group on Mobility
Mr. J. K. Holdsworth 317
Report of the Study Group on Securing Financial Support
(including Fundraising)
Mr. Geoffrey F. Gibbs 319
Report of the Study Group on Low Vision Aids and Maximiza-
tion of Residual Vision
Dr. Carl Kupfer 321
Report of the Study Group on Research in Behavioural Science
as Related to Blindness
Dr. Nils Trowald 322
BUSINESS SESSION 4
Report of the Nominations Committee 323
CLOSING SESSION
Speech of the Retiring President 325
Speech of the Newly Elected President 328
BACKGROUND OF THE CONFERENCE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF WCWB
The international aspect of blind welfare dates from 1931, when a
conference, attended by delegates from more than 30 countries, was
held in New York. That conference led to a desire for a permanent
international organization, which would maintain liaison between all
working in the field of blind welfare. But the 30's proved politically too
unstable to favour its establishment. After the Second World War, the
United States and the United Kingdom sought a resumption of inter-
national cooperation on the New York scale, and in spite of the
difficulties of the post-war years, a conference on "The Place of the
Blind in the Modern World" was held at Oxford in 1949, at which
Europe and North America were represented. Once again, the desire
for a permanent council was strongly expressed, particularly by the
representatives of Scandinavia. An international committee was elected,
charged with the task of exploring the possibilities for the creation of a
world organization. In 1951, in Paris, a draft constitution for an inter-
national organization was adopted, bringing into being the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind. General Assemblies have been held
in 1954 in Paris on "Various Aspects of Blindness"
in 1959 in Rome on "The Employment of the Blind"
in 1964 in New York on "The Problems of the BHnd in a Changing
World"
in 1969 in New Delhi on "The Blind in an Age of Science"
in 1974 in Sao Paulo on "Resources and Relationships in Work
with and for the Bhnd"
On July 31, 1979, there were 73 countries holding National Member-
ship of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind.
At the opening of this our Sixth Quinquennial Assembly, the com-
position of the Officers was as follows :
President: Mr. Boris V. Zimin.
Vice-Presidents: Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill, Brazil; Sheikh
Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim, Saudi Arabia; Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi,
Japan.
Honorary Treasurer: Mr. John C. Colligan, C.B.E.
Honorary Secretary General : Mr. Anders Amor.
The aims of WCWB are international cooperation between organiza-
tions working for the welfare of the blind and prevention of blindness
throughout the world.
WCWB has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council
of the United Nations, UNESCO and UNICEF and official relations
with the World Health Organization; it is on the special list of the
International Labour Office. It is also a member of the Council of
World Organizations Interested in the Handicapped (CWOIH), a
member of the Board of the International Agency for the Prevention of
BUndness, and has consultative status with the International Federation
of Library Associations.
The General Assembly, the principal deliberative organ of the
WCWB, which includes all Honorary, National, International, Spon-
soring and Associate Members, meets every five years to consider
reports on progress and administration, to hear talks and exchange
views. It also agrees on recommendations to governments and adopts
resolutions laying down minimum standards. The General Assembly
also elects the WCWB officers, the President, the Vice-Presidents, the
Treasurer, the Secretary General, and all other members of the Execu-
tive Committee, which governs the WCWB between the Assemblies.
Out of the 35 members of the Executive Committee, no less than 25 of
these represent the various regions of the world : 3 from Africa, 5 from
East and South East Asia, 7 from Europe, 2 from the Middle East, 5
from North America and Oceania, 3 from Latin America and the
Caribbean, plus two representatives of the international members.
The chairman of the Consultative Committee also has a seat on the
Executive and there are three seats "at large" held by individually
elected members.
The World Council publishes a quarterly newsletter, designed to act
as a link between its members. It has a wide circulation, and is also made
available to many international governmental and non-governmental
organizations, and other groups interested in our field. It aims at
keeping members informed of all changes in the administration or
leadership of organizations of and for the blind the world over, of new
legislation concerning the blind, of special projects or achievements in
work for the blind, of future plans, meetings and conferences, etc. It
also reports on past conferences, and reviews books and publications
of special interest to the blind. The newsletter is produced in English,
French and Spanish.
As far as possible, all documentation emanating from the Council's
offices is published in both English and French.
The last Executive Committee of the World Council, held in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, in March 1977, decided to accept the kind invitation of
the Nigerian Government for the venue of the Sixth World Assembly
in Kaduna and chose as a theme for the debates: "Cooperation".
However, due to unforeseen circumstances, it was unfortunately not
possible to hold the Assembly in Nigeria and the meeting finally took
place in Antwerp, Belgium.
All papers presented at the meeting will be found in the proceedings.
Paris, January 1980
PROGRAMME COMMITTEE
Sir John Wilson, C.B.E., Chairman
Mr. Bengt Lindqvist
Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim
Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill
Mr. Loyal E. Apple
Mr. Suresh C. Ahuja
Mr. Ismaila Konate
CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS
President: Mr. Boris V. Ziniin
Honorary Treasurer: Mr. John C. Colligan, C.B.E.
Honorary Secretary General : Mr. Anders Arnor
Assistant Secretary General : Mrs. Hilary Gohier
DELEGATES
Algeria
DJELLOUL, Mustapha
President
Organisation nationale des Aveugles
algeriens
4 Bid. Mohamed Khemisti
Algiers
LAGHOUATI, Abdelkader
Secretaire general
Organisation nationale des Aveugles
algeriens
4 Bid. Mohamed Khemisti
Algiers
Argentina
BADANO, Dr. Norberto J.
Jefe
Servicio Nacional de Rehabilitacion
y Capacitacion del Ciego
Sub-Secretaria de Estado del Menor
y la Familia
Ministerio de Bienestar Social
Lafinur 2988
Buenos Aires
GARCIA GARCILAZO, Dr. Hugo
Combate de Los Pozos 1159 — 5; Piso
1222 Buenos Aires
Australia
POTTER, Ralph
Australian Federation of Blind Citizens
18 Albert Avenue
Tranmere, South Australia 5073
WILSON, John
Honorary Secretary
Australian National Council of and
for the Blind
c/o Association for the Blind
7 Mair Street
Brighton Beach, Victoria 3188
Bangladesh
CHOUDHURI, Monsur Ahmed
Executive Officer
Bangladesh National Society for
the Blind
12 Folder Street
Wari
Dacca 3
HUSAIN, Dr. Rabiul
General Secretary
Bangladesh National Society for
the Blind
Chittagong Branch
General Hispital Building
Anderkilla
Chittagong
HUSSAIN, Khondoker S.
Chairman
Bangladesh National Society for
the Blind
12 Folder Street
Wari
Dacca 3
Belgium
DYCKMANS, Achille
President
Union beige des Organismes neutres
pour Handicapes de la Vue
16 rue de I'Amitie
B-6510 Morlanwelz-Mariemont
(Hainaut)
BrazU
de Gouvea NOWILL, Mrs. Dorina
President
Funda^ao para o Livro do Cego
no Brasil
Rua Dr. Diogo de Faria, 558
04037 Sao Paulo
de MASI, Miss Ivete
Funda^ao para o Livro do Cego
no Brasil
Rua Dr. Diogo de Faria, 558
04037 Sao Paulo
PIO, Mrs. Olenka Reda Maceda
Funda^ao para o Livro do Cego
no Brasil
Rua Dr. Diogo de Faria, 558
04037 Sao Paulo
Bulgaria
GRADEV, Janaky
President
Union of the Blind of Bulgaria
Ul. Naitcho Tzanov, 1 72
Sofia 1309
VALCHANOVA, Mrs. Vassilka
Union of the Blind of Bulgaria
Ul. Naitcho Tzanov, 172
Sofia 1309
Cameroon
EBOT, Eta Mathias
Provincial Service of Social Affairs
Ministry of Social Affairs
Mezam-Bamenda
North West Province
EKITIKE MOUKOKO, Benjamin
Minist6re des Affaires sociales
Yaounde
Denmark
JENSEN, Svend
President
Dansk Blindesamfund
Randersgade 68
DK 2100 Copenhagen G
El Salvador
GOMEZ, Miss Irma Concepcion
Director
Centro de Rehabilitacion de Ciegos
"Eugenia Duenas"
21 A Calle Poniente 240
San Salvador
Ethiopia
LIBEN, Tamere
P.O.B. 30057
Addis Ababa
SHIFFERAW, Manekuleh
Head of Voluntary Agencies &
Associations Department
Rehabilitation Agency for the Disabled
P.O. Box 21372
Addis Ababa
Fiji
SHEIK, Mohammed
Vice-President
Fiji Blind Society
G.P.O. 1381
Suva
Canada
PURSE, Ross C.
Managing Director
Canadian National Institute
for the Blind
1929 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M4G 3E8
Finland
KARVINEN, Arvo
Secretary General
Sokeain Keskusliitto r.y.
Makelankatu, 52
OO510 Helsinki 51
Colombia
PRADILLA COBOS, Hernando
Director
National Institute for the Blind
Apartado Aereo 4816, Z.l
Avenida Caracas no 18-48
Bogota, D.E.
Czechoslovakia
DRTINA, Dr. Jan
Union of Invalids
Federal Committee
Karlinske nam. 12
183 06 Prague 8
Karlin
France
CHAMBET, Dr. Claude
Presidente
Association pour les Aveugles
Centre de Reeducation pour
Aveugles Recents
Domaine des Ombrages
78160 Marly-le-Roi
GAUVRIT, Henri
Directeur
Centre de Faibles de Vue
Avenue Aristide Briand
33700 Merignac
HERB, Marcel
Vice-President
Union des Producteurs aveugles
titulaires du Label
27 rue de la Premidre Armee
67000 Strasbourg
NICOLLE, Andre
President
Federation des Aveugles de France
58 avenue Bosquet
75007 Paris
SCHNEIDER-MAUNOURY, Pierre
Secretaire general
Association Valentin Haiiy
5 rue Duroc
75007 Paris
German Democratic Republic
PIELASCH, Dr. Helmut
President
Blinden-und-Sehschwachen-Verband
der DDR
102 Berlin
Poststrasse 4/5, PSF 116
SCHLEMONAT, Mrs. Ingeburg
Vice-President
Blinden-und-Sehschwachen-Verband
der DDR
102 Berlin
Poststrasse 4/5, PSF 116
German Federal Republic
GEISSLER, Dr. Horst
President
Deutscher Blindenverband e.V.
5300 Bonn
Bismarckallee, 30
HERTLEIN, Jurgen
Director
Deutsche Blindenstudienanstalt
3550 Marburg
Am Schlag, 8
SCHAFER, Dr. Otto
Vice-President
Bund der Kriegsblinden
Deutschlands e.V.
5300 Bonn
Schumannstrasse 35
SCHOLLER, Dr. Heinrich
President
Verein der Blinden Geistesarbeiter
Deutschlands e.V.
8000 Munich 71
Zwengauerweg 5
SONNTAG, Dr. Franz
President
Bund der Kriegsblinden
Deutschlands e.V.
5300 Bonn
Schumannstrasse 35
Guatemala
ESTRADA-AVALOS, Oscar
Comite Nacional pro Ciegos
4 Avenue 2-28, Zone 1
Guatemala City
de STAHL, Mrs. Elisa M.
Presidente
Comite Nacional pro Ciegos
4 Avenue 2-28, Zone 1
Guatemala City
Hungary
VAS, Prof. Dr. Tibor
President
Hungarian Association of the Blind
H-1 136 Budapest Xm
Balzac u. 48/a
India
AHUJA, Suresh C.
Executive Officer
National Association for the Blind
Jehangir Wadia Building
51 Mahatma Gandhi Road
Bombay 400 023
DESAI, Captain Homi J. M.
Honorary Secretary General
National Association for the Blind
Jehangir Wadia Building
51 Mahatma Gandhi Road
Bombay 400 023
NANA V ATI, Mrs. Shehera F. D.
Vice-President
National Association for the Blind
Jehangir Wadia Building
51 Mahatma Gandhi Road
Bombay 400 023
PATEL, Jagdish K.
Honorary Secretary
Adult Training Centre for the Blind
Near A.T.I.R.A.
Vastrapur Road
Ahmedabad380 015
VYAS, Dr. Rajendra T.
Honorary Secretary
National Association for the Blind
c/o Royal Commonwealth Society
for the Blind
South-East Asia Regional Office
B-1/3 Matru Ashish
L. Jagmohandas Marg
Bombay 400 036
Jordan
SHEHADEH, Miss Helena
Assistant Secretary
Society of the National Library
for the Blind
P.O. Box 27
Beit Jala (West Bank of Jordan)
via Israel
Italy
CASTELLUCCI, Nicola
Unione Italiana dei Ciechi
Via Borgognona 38
Rome
CATTANI, Rodolfo
Unione Italiana dei Ciechi
Via Borgognona 38
Rome
KERVIN, Roberto
Vice-President
Unione Italiana dei Ciechi
Via Borgognona 38
Rome
TIOLI, Enzo
Unione Italiana dei Ciechi
Via Borgognona 38
Rome
Ivory Coast
AHOUZI, J. A.
Secretaire general de I'Association
pour la Promotion des Aveugles
de Cote d'lvoire
Directeur des Affaires sociales
Ministdre du Travail et des
Affaires sociales
B.P. 1755
Abidjan
SANGARE, Prof. Souleymane
President
Association pour la Promotion des
Aveugles de Cote d'lvoire
c/o Centre Hospitalier et
Universitaire d'Abidjan
B.P. 21.032
Abidjan
Kenya
ONDIEKI, George
Ministry of Education
P.O. Box 30040
Nairobi
WAMBUA, Luke
Ministry of Education
P.O. Box 30040
Nairobi
Korea
LEE, Dr. Mary S.
President
Korea Society for the Welfare of the
Visually Handicapped
K.P.O. 381
Seoul
Libya
KHUMAJ, Mabrouk
Al Nour Association for the
Rehabilitation of the Blind
P.O. Box 3770
Tripoli
Malaysia
HO, Ivan
Society of the Blind in West Malaysia
c/o Kumpulan Guthrie Sdn
P.O. Box 2516
Kuala Lumpur
NG, Miss Winnie
Executive Director
Malayan Association for the Blind
P.O. Box 687
Kuala Lumpur
Japan
IWAHASHI, Hideyuki
Chief Director
Nippon Lighthouse
Welfare Center for the Blind
4-37 Imazunaka 2-chome
Tsurumi-ku
Osaka City 538
Mali
KONATE, Ismaila
President
Association malienne pour la
Promotion sociale des Aveugles
B.P. 377
Bamako
KONATE, Mrs. Dj6n6ba
Vice-Pr6sidente
Association malienne pour la
Promotion sociale des Aveugles
B.P. 377
Bamako
Norway
HUSVEG, Arne
General Secretary
Norges Blindeforbund
Sporveisgate 10
Oslo 3
Malta
BURLO, Joseph
Honorary Secretary
The Society for the Blind
1/1 Tigne Terrace
Sliema
Portugal
MONTEIRO, Orlando de Jesus
Secretaria Nacional de Reabilita?ao
Avenida Conde Valbom 63
1000 Lisbon
Mexico
LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ,
Prof. Jos6 Amor
Luis Quintero No 45
Unidad C.T.M. Atzacoalcos
Mexico 14, D.F.
NAVARRO NAVARRO, Lorenzo
Mollendo No 933
Col. Lindavista
Mexico 14, D.F.
New Zealand
GIBBS, Geoffrey F.
Director
Royal New Zealand Foundation
for the Blind
545 Parnell Road
Newmarket, Auckland 1
SMALL, Terence Henry
New Zealand Association of the
Blind and Partially Blind
9/93 Browns Road
Manurewa
Niger
SOLI, Abdourahmane
President
Association nationale pour
la Promotion des Aveugles
B.P. 2393
Niamey Balafon
TCHELLE, Mrs. Eugenie
Secretaire generale
Association nationale pour
la Promotion des Aveugles
B.P. 2393
Niamey Balafon
Saudi Arabia
AL-GHANIM, Sheikh Abdullah M.
President
Regional Bureau of the Middle East
Committee for the Welfare of the
Blind
P.O. Box 3465
Riyadh
AL-AJLAN, Ajlan
Regional Bureau of the Middle East
Committee for the Welfare of the
Blind
P.O. Box 3465
Riyadh
South Africa
COHEN, Dr. Walter
P.O. Box 5504
Johannesburg 2000
PAUW, Theo
Chairman
South African National Council
for the Blind
106 Marais Street
Strand 7140
Cape Province
YACOOB, Dr. Mohammed Z.
64 Pomat Road
Reservoir Hill
Durban
Spain
JIMENEZ ALBENIZ, Jesus
Presidente
Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos
de Espana
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset 18
Madrid 6
GOMEZ de la TORRE, Ramon
Vice-Presidente
Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos
de Espana
Calk de Jose Ortega y Gasset 1 8
Madrid 6
LORENTE GARCIA, Jose
Jefe del Departamento de Empleo
Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos
de Espana
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset 18
Madrid 6
ZURITA FANJUL, Pedro
Jefe del Departamento de Relaciones
Internacionales
Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos
de Espana
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset 18
Madrid 6
JOSS, Mrs. Ella
Secretary
Schweizerischer Blinden und
Sehbehindertenverband
Zahringerstrasse 49
3000 Bern 9
Syria
MURAD, Nihad
Ministdre des Affaires sociales
et du Travail
Damascus
Trinidad and Tobago
GIBBS de GOVIA, Mrs. Cleo
Executive Officer
Trinidad & Tobago Blind Welfare
Association
118 Duke Street
Port of Spain
Sri Lanka
BENJAMIN, S. M.
Honorary Secretary
Sri Lanka Council for the Blind
74 A Church Street
Colombo 2
GUNAWARDENE, Sir Senarath
President
Sri Lanka Council for the Blind
74 A Church Street
Colombo 2
Sweden
LINDQVIST, Bengt
President
Swedish Federation of the Visually
Handicapped
S-122 88 Enskede
NILSSON, Bertil
Central Board
Swedish Federation of the Visually
Handicapped
S-122 88 Enskede
Switzerland
HOSTETTLER, Max
Secretary
Schweizerischer Zentralverein fiir
das Blindenwesen
St. Leonhardstr. 32
CH 9000 St. Gallen
Tunisia
BOUTARFA, Abdelmajid
Tresorier general
Union nationale des Aveugles
de Tunisie
81 avenue de Londres
Tunis
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
AGUEEV, Eugene
Chief Editor "Nasha Jizn"
All Russia Association of the Blind
14 Novaya Plochad
103 672 Moscow
FEDORENKO, Vassili
Vice President
All Russia Association of the Blind
14 Novaya Plochad
103 672 Moscow
FEOKTISTOVA, Dr. Valentina
Herzen Institute on Pedagogy
Department of Defectology
48 Moika Embankment
Leningrad
LIEBMAN, Prof. Dr. Elena
All Russia Association of the Blind
14 Novaya Plochad
103 672 Moscow
PRIMKULOV, Koudrat
President
Uzbek Association of the Blind
Central Board
22 a Bogdan Khmelnitski Street
700 064 Tashkent
Untted Kingdom
BOULTER, Eric T.
Director General
Royal National Institute for the Blind
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
PARKER, Thomas J.
General Secretary & Treasurer
National League of the Blind and
Disabled of Great Britain and
Ireland
15 DeBarri Street
Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd
Mid-Glamorgan, Wales
PASCOE, William H.
General Manager & Secretary
Royal London Society for the Blind
105-9 Salusbury Road
Brondesbury
London NW6 6RH
TAYLOR, Charles H.
President
National Federation of the Blind
of the United Kingdom
71 Oakhurst Grove
East Dulwich
London ZE22 9AH
THOMSON, James D.
Secretary & Treasurer
Scottish National Federation for the
Welfare of the Blind
39 St. Andrew's Street
Dundee DDl 2EU
Scotland
WILLS, C. Douglas
Secretary
St. Dunstan's
191 Old Marylebone Road
London NWl 5QN
United States of America
APPLE, Loyal E.
Executive Director
American Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
15 West 16th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
DUNLAP, John J.
President
American Association of Workers
for the Blind, Inc.
P.O. Box 53174, Capitol Station
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105
MILLER, Oral O.
President
American Council of the Blind
1211 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
ROBERTS, Mrs. Feme K.
Association for Education of the
Visually Handicapped
919 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, Pa. 19107
SNIDER, Harold
President
Access for the Handicapped, Inc.
Suite 803
1012— 14th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
Uruguay
ELISSALDE, Enrique
President
Fundacion Braille del Uruguay
21 de Setiembre 2268
Montevideo
Venezuela
RODRIGUEZ CARDENAS,
Dr. Manuel
Director Ejecutivo
Sociedad Amigos de los Ciegos
Calle Mevorah Florentin
Apartado de Correos, 40.210
Caracas 104
de RODRIGUEZ, Mrs. Yolande
Sociedad Amigos de los Ciegos
Calle Mevorah Florentin
Apartado de Correos, 40.210
Caracas 104
Yugoslavia
VLADUSIC, Stevo
President
Union of the Blind of Yugoslavia
11001 Belgrade
Ustanicka 25-11
Postanski fah 807
MIJATOVIC, Mirko
Vice-President
Union of the Blind of Yugoslavia
11001 Belgrade
Ustanicka 25-11
Postanski fah 807
Zambia
NGWALE, Elijah
Zambia Council for the Handicapped
P.O. Box RW 73
Ridgeway
Lusaka
INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS
Mr. Roy KUMPE International Services for the Blind
Executive Vice-President 2811 Fair Park Blvd.
Little Rock, Arkansas 72204
U.S.A.
Mr. Harold G. ROBERTS
Executive Director
Mr. Wolfgang STEIN
Overseas Director
Sir John WILSON
Director
Helen Keller International Inc.
22 West 17th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
U.S.A.
ChristoflFel-Blindenmission e.V.
6140 Bensheim
Nibelungenstrasse, 124
German Federal Republic
Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind
Commonwealth House
Heath Road
Hay wards Heath, Sussex RH16 3AZ
United Kingdom
OFFICIAL PARTICIPANTS
Representatives of Governments, lecturers,
of Associate Members)
Algeria
MADANY, Mohamed Islam
Directeur de I'Assistance Publique
Ministdre de la Sante
Algiers
Angola
BARTOLOMEU JUNIOR, Simao
(Representative of the Secretaria de
Estado dos Assuntos Sociais)
Rua Cesario Verde 1 2
Luanda
CRUZ LIMA ALVES, Mrs. Maria O.
(Representative of the Secretaria de
Estado para os Assuntos Sociais)
Bairro Nelito Soar^s
Rua Alda Lara 21
Luanda
da SILVA de ALMEIDA, Mrs. Emilia
(Representative of the Secretaria de
Estado dos Assuntos Sociais)
Bairro do Maculusso
Rua Federico Welwitch 38/40
Luanda
sponsoring members and representatives
Australia
DUXBURY, Gordon W.
National President
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind
Associations of Australia
Chandler Highway
P.O. Box 162
Kew, Victoria 3101
HOLDSWORTH, J. Keith
National Director
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind
Associations of Australia
Chandler Highway
P.O. Box 162
Kew, Victoria 3101
WESTAWAY, Don L.
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind
Associations of Australia
Chandler Highway
P.O. Box 162
Kew, Victoria 3101
Argentina
CRESPO, Miss Susana E.
Director
Instituto Helen Keller para Diegos
Av. Velez Sarsfield 2100
Cordoba
Belgium
VERMEULEN, Antoon
Licht en Liefde voor onze Blinden
Jerusalemstraat 19
8000 Bruges
10
Benin
I.EGONDA, Joseph
Premier Conseiller
Ambassade de la Repiiblique
Populaire du Benin
5 avenue de TObservatoire
1180 Brussels
Belgium
WHANNOU, Georges
Conseiller
Ambassade de la Republique
Populaire du Benin
5 avenue de I'Observatoire
1180 Brussels
Belgium
Canada
MERCER, Robert F.
Canadian National Institute
for the Blind
350 East 36th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C. V5W 1C6
France
DESMERGER, Mme Michele
Association nationale des Parents
d'Enfants aveugles
74 rue de S6vres
75007 Paris
HUBERT, Miss Marguerite
Ministere de la Cooperation
20 rue Monsieur
75700 Paris
LE QUELLEC, Mrs. Yvette
Ministere de la Cooperation
20 rue Monsieur
75700 Paris
LEQUEUX, Alain
Laboratoire de Recherche pour la
Reinsertion professionnelle des
Handicapes (CNAM)
2 rue Conte
75141 Paris Cedex 03
POSTIAUX, Michel
Federation des Aveugles de France
15 rue Thiers
59410 Anzin
German Federal Republic
JUNGMANN, Fritz
Managing Director
Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk e.V.
"Blinde Helfen Blinden"
4100 Duisburg 1
Grabenstrasse 179
MEIER, F.
Deutsche Blindcnstudicnanslalt
3550 Marburg
Am Schlag 8
PFEIFER, The Rev. Walter
Deutsches Blindenhilfswerk e.V.
"Blinde Helfen Blinden"
4100 Duisburg 1
Grabenstrasse 179
Ghana
GARDINER, Mr. R. K.
Director
Agricultural and Industrial
Consultancy and Investment
Promotion Services Ltd.
Ring Road West Industrial Area
P.O. Box 3707
Accra
India
RAJE, Ratnakar
Honorary Secretary
Blind Men's Association
Cement Marketing Dept. A.C.C. Ltd.
Cement House
121 Maharshi Karve Road
Bombay 400 020
Kenya
AWAN, Dr. A. M.
Senior Ophthalmic Consultant
Kenya tst National Ophthalmic
Adviser to the Ministry of Health
Kenyatta National Hospital
P.O. Box 20 273
Nairobi
Lebanon
CHAMOUN, Mrs. Jeannette
The Lebanese Society for the
Blind and Deaf
Baabda
LAHOUD, Mrs. Wadad
The Lebanese Society for the
Blind and Deaf
Baabda
Malawi
Mbekeani, Ronald J.
Malawi Council for the Handicapped
P.O. Box 5971
Limbe
11
Malaysia
KNUTSEN, Dr. Kjell C.
Executive Director
St. Nicholas School for the Visually
Handicapped
4 Jalan Bagan Jermal
Penang
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
KISELIOV, Sergei
Ministry of Social Security
4 Shabolovka
Moscow
Mozambique
NAMASHULUA, Jonas G.
Ministry of Health
Louren^o Marques
MEMON, Shahid Ahmed
Honorary Secretary General
Pakistan Association of the Blind
159 First Floor
K.M.C. Garden Market
Karachi 3
SHAH, Dr. Fatima
Past President
International Federation of the Blind
Noor House
P-56, Victoria Road
Karachi 3
Portugal
MIGUEIS, Dr. Pedro Manuel Matos
Associa^ao de Cegos "'Luis Braille"
Rua de Sao Jose, 86-1
Lisbon 2
PINTO, Claudino Arieira
Associagao de Cegos "Luis Braille"
Rua de Sao Jose, 86-1
Lisbon 2
Sweden
TROWALD, Dr. Nils
Department of Educational Research
Blindness Research
University of Uppsala
Box 2109
Uppsala
Togo
LABAN, Mrs. Fafani
Direction generale des Affaires sociales
Ministere des Affaires sociales
et de la Promotion feminine
Lome
Trinidad and Tobago
CAREY, Kevin
Executive Director
Caribbean Council for the Blind
118 Duke Street
Port of Spain
United Kingdom
BATHURST, Christopher
Clarke & Smith Industries
Melbourne House
Melbourne Road
Wallington, Surrey ;
BIRLEY, Miss Margaret
Principal Social Work Service Officer
Department of Health and Social
Security
c/o RNIB
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
CLARK, Anthony R.
Director General
The Guide Dogs for the Blind
Association
Alexandra House
9-11 Park Street
Windsor, Berkshire SL4 IJR
FOURACRES, Simon
Wormald International Sensory Aids
Limited
7 Musters Road, West Bridgford
Nottingham NG2 7PP
HEDGES, Walter
Clarke & Smith Industries
Melbourne House
Melbourne Road
Wallington, Surrey
GARLAND, Cedric
Technical Officer
Royal National Institute for the Blind
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
United States of America
BRONSON, Jim
Telesensory Systems, Inc.
3408 Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, California 94304
ERTZNER, Mrs. Ane
Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc.
1448 Longfellow Way
San Jose, California 95129
12
JACOBSEN, Mrs. Frances
Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc.
788— 30th Ave
San Francisco, California 94121
KUPFER, Dr. Karl
Director
National Eye Institute
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20014
PETTISS, Dr. Susan
Director, Blindness Prevention
Helen Keller International, Inc.
22 West 17th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
STILES, Eugene M.
General Manager
Christian Record Braille
Foundation, Inc.
4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68516
WINN, Dr. Robert J.
Director
Bureau for Blind & Visually
Handicapped
Rehabilitation Services
Administration, DHEW
Washington, DC
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR
OFFICE
GUNTHER, Karl
Vocational Rehabilitation Section
Vocational Training Branch
Training Department
CH 1211 Geneva 22
Switzerland
UNESCO
BARRAUD, Mrs. Helga
Cooperative Action Programme
7 Place de Fontenoy
75700 Paris
France
UNICEF
IRWIN, Dr. Michael H. K.
UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh
House No. 150/B, Road No. 13/1
Dhanmondi R.A.
G.P.O. Box 58
Dacca 5
Bangladesh
INTERNATIONAL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
lAPB
WILSON, Sir John
President
International Agency for the
Prevention of Blindness
Commonwealth House
Haywards Heath
Sussex RH16 3AZ
United Kingdom
ICEVH
STEIN, Wolfgang
President
International Council for Education
of the Visually Handicapped
D-6140 Bensheim 4
Nibelungenstrasse 124
German Federal Republic
IFB
SONNTAG, Dr. Franz
President
International Federation of the Blind
5300 Bonn
Schumannstrasse 35
German Federal Republic
IFLA
WIJNSTROOM, Mrs. M.
Secretary General
International Federation of Library
Associations
P.O. Box 82128
2508 EC The Hague
Netherlands
van WESEMAEL, Mr.
International Federation of Library
Associations
P.O. Box 82128
2508 EC The Hague
Netherlands
International Federation of
Ophthalmic Surgeons
HAUSTRATE-GOSSET, Dr. M. F.
Secretary
Organisation Beige de Prevention de
la Cecite
33 Harmoniestraat
2000 Antwerp
Belgium
13
ISOD
SCRUTON, Miss Joan
Secretary General
International Sports Organization
for the Disabled
Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for
the Paralysed and other Disabled
Harvey Road
Aylesbury, Bucks.
United Kingdom
League of Red Cross Societies
BEUCKELAER, Miss
Croix Rouge de Belgique
98 Chaussee de Vleurgat
1050 Brussels
Belgium
LEBORNE, Miss
Croix Rouge de Belgique
98 Chaussee de Vleurgat
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Rehabilitation International
JOCHHEIM, Prof. K. A.
Rehabilitation Zentrum der
Universitat
5 Cologne 41
Lindenburger AUee, 44
German Federal Republic
OBSERVERS
Algeria
MADANY, Mrs.
5 Chemin Vidal
El Biar — Algiers
Australia
JEFFREY, Hugh
809 High Street
East Kew, Victoria 3102
LASERIAN, Sister
Villa Maria Society for the Blind
Stud Road
Wantirna, Melbourne
Victoria
WILSON, Mrs. Eunice
7 Mair Street
Brighton Beach
Victoria 3188
Bahrain
AL KHAJA, Mrs. Naima
DASHTI, Miss Samira
GHARIB, Mrs. Salwa
KAMAL, Miss Naima
KAZARONI, Mrs. Berwin
KAZARONI, Mrs. Fawzia
KAZARONI, Mrs. Ferzana
c/o Al Noor Institute for the Blind
Moharraq
Belgium
van CAMPENHOUT, Marcel
Secretaire Comite national beige
Comite national beige pour la
Promotion des Handicapes de la Vue
Centre international Rogier 7
Bureau 201
21 rue A. Bert u lot
1000 Brussels
CORDARA-HUBERT, Mrs. A. M.
Union beige des Organismes neutres
pour Handicapes de la Vue
16 rue de TAmitie
B-6510 Morlanwelz-Mariemont
(Hainaut)
CRAHAY, Miss J. F.
TSI International Representative
Centre d'Etude et de Reclassement
professionnel des Handicapes visuels
37 rue de I'Argonne
1060 Brussels
de GREEF, Rene
Oeuvre nationale des Aveugles
Avenue Dailly
92 Brussels
JACOBS, Ernest
Comite national beige pour la
Prorr.otion des Handicapes de la Vue
Centre international Rogier 7
Bureau 201
21 rue A. Bertulot
1000 Brussels
JACOBS, Mrs. E.
Stijn Streuvelsstraat 52
B.8000 Bruges
PAULUS, Mrs. Genevieve
Amicale des Anciens Eleves de
rinstitut Royal pour Handicapes
de la Vue
75 A rue des Buissons
B 4000 Liege
SEBILLE, Marcel
TSI International Representative
Cntre d'Etude et de Reclassement
professionnel des Handicapes visuels
37 rue de I'Argonne
1060 Brussels
14
STARCK, Jose
President
Federation des Aveugles beiges
46 Bid des Guerets
4880 Spa
de WULF, Leonard
Secretary
International Federation of the Blind
Mastweg, 2
B-2610Wiirijk
de WULF, Mrs. Marcelle
Mastweg, 2
B-2610 Wilrijk
dos SANTOS, Aristides Antonio
Rua Dr. Diogo de Faria, 666 apt. 22
Vila Clementino
04027 Sao Paulo
Bulgaria
BOYKIKEVA, Mrs. Vessela
Union of the Blind in Bulgaria
Ul. Naicho Tzanov, 172
Sofia 1309
POPOVA, Mrs. Evgenia
Ministry of Public Health
Lenin Place, 5
Sofia
Brazil
Sandoval de ANDRADE, Geraldo
R. Professor Carlos Rath, 198
05462 Sao Paulo
Sandoval de ANDRADE, Mrs.Thereza
R. Professor Carlos Rath, 198
05462 Sao Paulo
Cordeiro AZEVEDO, Mrs. Moema
Rua Chapeco, 699
Belo Horizonte
Almeida de CARVALHO,
Miss. Hortencia
Rua Artur Azevedo, 1583— Apt. 11
05404 Sao Paulo
GARCIA, Miss Nely
Funda(;ao para o Livro do Cego
no Brasii
Rua Dr. Diogo de Faria, 558
04037 Sao Paulo
LEITE CAMINHA, Mrs. Odinea
Rua Silva Santos, 102
66 000 Belem-Para
das Merces MARQUES de ALMEIDA,
Miss Maria
Rue Conselheiro Saraiva 281
Apto 401
Belo Horizonte
MATTOS, Luis Geraldo
Rua Chapeco, 699
Belo Horizonte 30 000
NOWILL, Alex
Rua Dr. Diogo de Faria, 558
04027 Sao Paulo
PEREIRA, MissEzilda Thereza Rocha
S.Q.S. 104 Bloco F— Apto 106
Brasilia (DF) CEP 70343
Canada
PURSE, Mrs. Vivian M.
2 Arnall Avenue
Scarborough, Ontario MIW 3A6
Czechoslovakia
FATRANOVA, Miss Beata
Union of Invalids
Federal Committee
Karlinske nam. 12
183 06 Prague 8— Karlin
Denmark
BREUM, Michael
Dansk Blindesamfund
Randersgade, 68
DK 2100 Copenhagen G
Finland
SJOSTEDT, Mrs. Solveig
Temppelikatu, 12
00100 Helsinki 10
France
CHAZAL, Philippe
Association Valentin Haiiy
5 rue Duroc
75007 Paris
GANDON, Miss Annie
135 rue St. Dominique
75007 Paris
HERB, Mrs. M.
27 rue de la lere Armee
67000 Strasbourg
SCHNEIDER-MAUNOURY, Mrs.
47 Boulevard Garibaldi
75015 Paris
15
WEMAERE, Miss Winifred M.
58 avenue Bosquet
75007 Paris
German Democratic Republic
BERNDT, Mrs. Renate
Blinden-und-Sehschwachen-Verband
der DDR
102 Berlin
Poststrasse 4/5
WICK, Mrs. Brigitte
Blinden-und-Sehschwechen-Verband
der DDR
102 Berlin
Poststrasse 4/5
German Federal Republic
ANGERMANN, Wolfgang
Verein der Blinden Geistesarbeiter
Deutschlands e.V.
8000 Munich 71
Zwengauerweg, 5
CHURCH, Thomas
TSI International Representative
8 MiJnchen 43
Postfach 430146
GEISSLER, Mrs. Evelyn
D5307 Wachtberg
Waldstrasse, 6
SCHAFER, Mrs. Katharina
D-5300 Bonn 1
Schumannstrasse, 35
SONNTAG, Mrs. Marianne
D-5300 Bonn 1
Schumannstrasse. 35
STEIN, Mrs. Marianne
D-6140 Bensheim 4
Nibelungenstr. 124
Guatemala
de ESTRADA AVALOS, Mrs. Martha
4 Avenue 2-28, Zone 1
Guatemala City
HERNANDEZ-POLANCO, Gustavo
National Committee for the Blind
4 Avenue 2-28, Zone 1
Guatemala City
SERRA-IBARRA, Alberto
National Association of the Blind
4 Avenue 2-28, Zone 1 ' ■
Guatemala City
Hungary
VANDOR, Tamas
Hungarian Association of the Blind
and Partially Sighted
H-1 136 Budapest XIII
Balzac u. 48/a
India
KAREPARAMPIL, Georgekutty
General Secretary
Kerala Federation of the Blind
Trivandrum 695 004
Kerala
PATEL, Mrs. Bhadra J.
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Road
Vastrapur
Ahmedabad 380 015
SALAM, Dr. F. S. Abdul
President
National Federation of the Blind
Maharashtra State Branch
Research Associate in Linguistics
T.19 Deccan College
Poona 41 1 006
Greece
DIMITRIOY, Miss Mary
Pan-Hellenic Association of the Blind
33 Sophocles Street
Athens
PASSALIS, Dimitris
Pan-Hellenic Association of the Blind
33 Sophocles Street
Athens
TSOUPRAS, Basil
Vice-President
Pan-Hellenic Association of the Blind
33 Sophocles Street
Athens
Italy
CASTELLUCCI, Mrs. Bianca Cappello
Largo Martuscelli 5
Napoli
CATTANI, Mrs. Anna
Piazza Domenicani 6
39 100 Bolzano
KERVIN, Mrs. Edda Marini
Via Borgognona 38
Rome
TIOLI, Mrs. Gina Bergamin
Via Jacopo della Quercia 81
35100 Padova
16
Japan
TWAHASHI, Mrs. Akiko
4-37 Naka 2-chome
Imazu, Tsuiumi-ku
Osaka 538
KANEKO, Toniimatsu
President
Welfare Home for the Blind
268-2 Mihashi 5-chome
Oniiya-shi
Saitama-ken
SEGAWA, Miss Hiroko
Welfare Home for the Blind
268-2 Mihashi 5-chome
Omiya-shi
Saitama-ken
Jordan
SHEHADEH, Edmund
P.O. Box 27
Beit-Jala
West Bank Israel
NSEIR, Rev. F-ouad
Superintendent
Lebanon Evangelical School for
the Blind
P.O. Box 166
Rue Amin Nakleh— Zarif Sector
Beirut
YASHOU, Hanna
Lebanon Evangelical School for
the Blind
P.O. Box 166
Rue Amin Nakleh — Zarif Sector
Beirut
Libya
El FIRJANL Mohammed
Association of the Blind
P.O. Box 583
Benghazi
LARRABL Ahmed
Association of the Blind
P.O. Box 583
Benghazi
Korea
KIM, Mrs. Chung-Hee
Korea Society for the Welfare of the
Visually Handicapped
K.P.O. Box 381
Seoul
KIM, Sung Soon
Director
Department of Social Affairs
City of Seoul
K.P.O. Box 381
Seoul
Lebanon
HADDAD, Michael
President de I'Assocation des
Aveugles du Liban
c/o Lebanon Evangelical School for
the Blind
P.O. Box 166
Rue Amin Nakleh — Zarif Sector
Beirut
KAZAN, Miss Antoinette
Minist^re du Travail et des
Affaires sociales
Chiah
Beirut
Malaysia
KNUTSEN, Mrs.
St. Nicholas School for the
Visually Handicapped
4 Jalan Bagan Jermal
Penang
Mexico
MERINO GOMEZ, Mrs. Laura Maria
Luis Quintaro No. 45
Unidad C.T.M. Atzacoalcos
Mexico 14, D.F.
New Zealand
McCarthy, Wayne Michael
6 Cambridge Road
Manurewa
Norway
HAUGANN, Mrs. Else Momrak
Nordraaks vei 39
1324Lysaker
PHkistflD
ADHAMI, Miss Yasmin
International Federation of the Blind
Noor House
P-56 Victoria Road
Karachi 3
17
Philippines
LAZO, Mrs. Sylvia G.
Director
Montessori Children's House
1 14 Panay Avenue
Quezon City
LLANES, Miss Linda
Blind Women's Foundation
504 General Malva Street
Malate — Manille
Portugal
GASPAR, Mrs. Maria da Concei^^ao
Secretariado Nacional de Reabilita?ao
Av. Conde Valbom 63
1000 Lisbon
Saudi Arabia
AL MAJID, Saleh
Regional Bureau of the Middle East
Committee for the Welfare of
the Blind
P.O. Box 3465
Riyadh
NILSSON, Mrs. Inga-Gerd
Poppelviigen 1 1
S-281 00 Hassleholm
ROSENCRANTZ, Mrs. Kerstin
c/o SIDA
S-105 25 Stockholm
Switzerland
EGGIMANN, Miss Anita
Schvveizerischer Blinden-und-
Sehbehindertenverband
Zahringerstrasse 49
3000 Bern 9
Syria
CHALATI, Faez
President du C.E.P.H.V.
Boite postale 4323
Damascus
Tanzania
KITALAMA, N. P.
Tanzania League of the Blind
P.O. Box 1949
Dar Es Salaam
Spain
GARCIA ALOS, Luis
Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos
de Espana
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset 18
Madrid 6
JIMENEZ ALBENIZ, Mrs. Alicia
Organizacion Nacional de Ciegos
de Espana
Calle de Jose Ortega y Gasset 18
Madrid 6
Sri Lanka
PIYASENA, K.
The Sri Lanka Council for the Blind
74 A Church Street
Colombo 2
Triin'dad and Tobago
KHAN, Francis
Trinidad & Tobago Blind Welfare
Association
1 1 8 Duke Street
Port of Spain
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
BOGDANOVA, Mrs. Olga
All Russia Association of the Blind
14 Novaia PI.
103 672 Moscow
TSESARSKAIA, Mrs. Ludmila
All Russia Association of the Blind
14 Novaia PI.
103 672 Moscow
Sweden
JERGNER, Miss Malou
Swedish Federation of the Visually
Handicapped
S-122 88 Enskede
LINDQVIST, Mrs. Gun
Swedish Federation of the Visually
Handicapped
S-122 88 Enskede
United Kingdom
BATHURST, Mrs. C.
Clarke & Smith Industries
Melbourne House
Melbourne Road
Wallington, Surrey
BOULTER, Mrs. Mary
Royal National Institute for the Blind
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
18
FOUr<ACRES, Mrs. S.
7 Musters Road
West Bridgford
Nottingham NG2 7PP
FOXALL, T. Benjamin
Secretary
Stoke-on-Trent Branch of National
League of Blind & Disabled
c/o RNIB
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
HEDGES, Mrs. W.
Clarke & Smith Industries
Melbourne House
Melbourne Road
Wallington, Surrey
JOHNS, Alan
Assistant Director (Overseas)
Royal Commonwealth Society for
the Blind
Commonwealth House
Haywards Heath
Sussex RH16 3AZ
PASCOE, Mrs. Margaret
Royal London Society for the Blind
105-9 Salusbury Road
Brondesbury
London NW6 6RH
SIMPSON, Mrs. Elsa
National Federation of the Blind
of the United Kingdom
71 Oakhurst Grove
East Dulwich
London ZE22 9AH
THOMSON, Mrs. Thelma
Scottish National Federation for the
Welfare of the Blind
39 St. Andrew's Street
Dundee DDl 2EU
Scotland
VITU, Ed
TSI International Representative
Woodland Cottage
Dunstall Green
Chobham, Surrey GU24 8PH
WATSON, Duncan A.
Chairman
Royal National Institute for the Blind
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
WATSON, Mrs. Mercia
Royal National Institute for the Blind
224 Great Portland Street
London WIN 6AA
WILSON, Lady .lean
Royal Commonwealth Society for the
Blind
Commonwealth House
Haywards Heath
Sussex RH16 3AZ
United States of America
APPLE, Mrs. Marianne
American Foundation for the
Blind, Inc.
15 West 16th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
COSTELLO, John
Associate Director for Program
Planning
Helen Keller International Inc.
22 West 17th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
DASTEEL, Hart
American Thermoform Corporation
8640 E. Slauson Avenue
Pico Rivera, California 90660
JAEKLE, Robert C.
Director of Rehabilitation
Helen Keller International, Inc.
22 West 17th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
KUMPE, Mrs. Berenice
7610 Choctaw
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
RABBY, Rami
1 36 East 55th Street
Apt. 8 E
New York, N.Y. 10022
Upper Volta
KABORE, Cheick
Association Voltaique pour la
Promotion des Aveugles
c/o Ministere des Affaires sociales
et de la Condition feminine
B.P. 515
Ouagadougou
Uuruguay
ELISSALDE, Mrs.
Fundacion Braille del Uruguay
21 de Setiembre, 2268
Montevideo
Yugoslavia
VUKOSAVLJEVIC, Mirko
Union of the Blind of Yugoslavia
11001 Belgrade
Ustanicka 25-1 1
Postanski fah 807
19
Interpreters
Mrs. Dominique HERZET
Mrs. Martine JONES
Technicians
Mr. Van de KERKHOVE
Mr. de VLEESCHOUWER ^
Secretariat
Mrs. Annie DVORETSKY, WCWB Stockholm
Miss Marina MAGALOFF, WCWB Paris
Miss Doris TRAPPITT, RNIB London
20i
OPENING SESSION
OFFICIAL GUESTS
Mr. G. DE WILDE, Cabinet Secretary, representing Mr. W. MARTENS, Prime
Minister.
Mr. L. COEN, Charge de Mission, representing Mr. H. SIMONET, Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
Mrs. C. LECLERCQ, Attache, representing Mr. A. CALIFICE, Minister of Social
Security
Mrs. C. RUTH, Attache, representing Mr. M. HANSENNE, Minister of the
French Community.
Mr. D. COENS, Secretary of State for the Flemish Community.
Mr. J. LECLERCQ, Attache, representing Mr. R. URBAIN, Minister of the
Postal. Telegraph and Telephone Service
Mr. A. VERCAMMEN, Provincial Government, representing Mr. A. KINS-
BERGEN, Governor of the Province of Antwerp.
Mr. V. VAN EETVELT, Permanent Deputy, Province of Antwerp.
Mr. J. COEN, Senator, representing Mr. J. GOL, President of the P.R.L. (Parti des
Reformes et de la Liberie).
21
OPENING SESSION
Wednesday morning, August 1, 1979
Opening Speech
by Mr. Boris V. Zimin, President
Your Excellencies. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
allow me in my capacity as the President, and on behalf of the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind, to cordially greet Mr. Dyckmans,
the National Member of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind
and the Head of the Belgian delegation to the WCWB, our guests of
honour, the representative of His Excellency the Prime Minister of
Belgium, the representative of His Excellency the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, the representative of His Excellency the Minister for Social
Affairs, the representative of His Excellency the Minister of the French
Community, His Excellency the Governor of the Province of Antwerp,
members of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the United
Nations family of organizations, and representatives of other inter-
national organizations. It is my pleasure to greet Dr. Sonntag, the
President of the International Federation of the Blind, Dr. Fatima Shah,
the immediate Past President of the International Federation of the
Blind, I cordially greet the delegates to this Sixth General Assembly,
the Observers and the Guides.
The Sixth General Assembly is an important event in the life of our
Organization. It has to develop the guidelines for the work in the
forthcoming quinquennium. I wish great success to the participants of
the Assembly. And now I have the honour to declare open the Sixth
General Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind.
And now it is my honour and pleasure to give the floor to the
National Member of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind
from Belgium and the Head of the Belgian delegation in our Organiza-
tion, Monsieur Dyckmans.
Address by Mr. Achille Dyckmans
Co-President of the Belgian National Committee for the Welfare
of the Visually Handicapped
Mr. President, Members ofthe Executive Committee, dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
I have been requested to speak at the opening ceremony, which gives
me great pleasure.
As you know, the 1979 Assembly of the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind should have been held in Lagos, Nigeria, but for
various reasons beyond their control, the leaders of the World Council
22
were obliged to convene it at a moment's notice in Antwerp; its un-
expected organization in Belgium was not accomplished without
difficulty, as you will imagine.
Besides the people I requested to help and who have given their moral
and material support for the organization of this meeting. I should be
failing in my duty if I did not mention my wife Mrs. Dyckmans, my
Secretary Mrs. Cordara, and the Secretary of the Belgian National
Committee for the Welfare of the Handicapped Mr. Van Campenhout,
who have contributed to the preparation of this World Assembly.
As National Member and Head of the Belgian Delegation to WCWB
and as Co-President of the Belgian National Committee for the Welfare
of the Visually Handicapped — the headquarters of which is in Brussels—
and on behalf of my colleague, Mr. de Vilder, second National Member
for Belgium and Co-President of the National Committee, I wish you
all a hearty welcome to our country and a very pleasant stay.
We also express our very sincere wishes for the success of this General
Assembly; we trust that it will carry out its work in a spirit of mutual
understanding and that the resolutions adopted at the conclusion of its
meetings will be so well thought out that in the future we shall be able
to record concrete results which will benefit all the visually handicapped
throughout the world.
I will now give you some information about the Belgian National
Committee for the Welfare of the Visually Handicapped. It was founded
in 1962 and is composed of two branches: the Belgian Union of Neutral
Organizations for the Visually Handicapped and the National Union of
Catholic Organizations for the Blind. Together, the two branches of this
National Committee include five groups of visually handicapped, five
associations for the blind and eleven schools for the blind and partially
sighted. Furthermore, two groups of visually handicapped and two
associations for the blind, which do not belong to either of these two
branches, are admitted as observers with consultative status. The
structure of the National Committee is as follows : the General Assem-
bly, the Executive Committee, composed of one Co-President, two
branch delegates, one delegate for the associations, one delegate for the
schools, i.e. a total of five representatives for each branch, plus one
non-voting observer. Finally, there are four Working Groups of eight
specialists (four persons for each branch) and one Group representing
the associations of parents of visually handicapped children, the
activities of which are different and clearly defined.
This National Committee represents the whole of the visually handi-
capped living in Belgium; its programme of action is of wide extent
and its list of claims boundless. Both aim at the improvement of the
moral and material conditions of all visually handicapped, Belgian and
foreign, living in our country. Since its foundation, thanks to the spirit
of collaboration and cooperation prevailing within this National Com-
mittee the results recorded today are most satisfactory, legislative
measures have been enacted by the Government and particular advan-
tages have been obtained from private associations.
Mr. Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen Representatives of Ministers,
23
Delegates of Public Authorities, Representatives of Embassies and
Consulates,
On behalf of my colleagues of the Executive Committee and all the
Members of WCWB, I wish to thank you warmly for honouring the
Opening Ceremony of the General Assembly with your presence.
In so doing, you are each in your own way showing your interest in
all the visually handicapped and at the same time in the improvement
of their conditions of existence.
Ladies and Gentlemen Delegates of Associations of and for the
Handicapped,
Your presence at this Opening Ceremony of the 1979 WCWB
General Assembly is proof of your interest in the Belgian National
Committee for the Welfare of the Visually Handicapped and in the
Joint National Action of the Handicapped. The latter was created in
1969 under the auspices of the National Committee, 1 had the honour
of being one of the founding members and was its first President for
many years.
Joint National Action of the Handicapped comprises the main
organizations of and for the handicapped in Belgium. Its action with the
Public Authorities is very beneficial for the handicapped. Thanks to the
altruism and efficacity of its members, the measures obtained to date
for all categories of handicapped have been of great value. Joint
National Action has organized several one-day seminars on a national
level at which ministers and high-ranking civil servants interested in the
problems of the handicapped have taken part.
I do not need to tell you just how much the collaboration between
these two important Belgian Associations has proved useful, for more
than one reason, for the defence of common interests, particularly
when it concerns all the handicapped — sensory, physically and mentally.
Let us hope that such team work will be carried on steadfastly for the
greatest benefit of all.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, Radio and Television,
More than ever today the spoken and written press plays a leading
role in the life of the population. It is appreciated at its true worth
when it presents its listeners and readers with precise communiques and
articles on topics of interest. This is particularly true of anything that
affects the lot of the handicapped in general. Unfortunately, in some
cases the press publishes sensational news which does not always reflect
the truth and sometimes does more harm than good to the cause of the
handicapped and often hurts their pride.
Apart from these exceptions, I would be remiss if I did not give the
members of the Press credit for the valuable help they can extend to the
handicapped by supporting their integration into employment and
everyday life, thus easing some of their daily problems by an appro-
priate adaptation within their family and the community. In so doing,
they are rendering a useful service to the handicapped and I thank them
in advance for all they can do for us.
After this brief description of the situation of the blind and visually
handicapped persons as well as other categories of handicapped in
Belgium, we are very glad that similar action is being taken on their
24
behalf in almost all other countries, as well as by international organiza-
tions such as the International Federation of the Blind and the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind, thanks to which we have the
opportunity to meet in Antwerp. May these two great international
agencies pursuing similar aims succeed in grouping as soon as possible
all the organizations of and for the blind throughout the world under
one banner, their experience and renown thus being of the greatest
good for all concerned.
This is the wish I express and I thank you for your attention.
Address by Mr. Henri Simonet
Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs
(read by Mr. L. Coen, Charge de Mission)
On the occasion of the Sixth General Assembly of the World Council
for the Welfare of the Blind, 1 should like to underline the interest that
Belgium and the Belgian Government takes in the problems around
which the work of your Assembly is centred.
In 1975, Belgium took the initiative of presenting to the General
Assembly of the United Nations a draft resolution entitled "Declaration
on the Rights of Handicapped Persons". This draft resolution, which
rapidly obtained the co-sponsorship of more than fifty States, was
adopted by the General Assembly by consensus.
At a time when throughout the whole world efforts are being made to
better adapt structures to the legitimate aspirations of humanity, it is
important that the people who are not in possession of all their physical
faculties may find their rightful place in our society and, above all, be
given the same opportunity as everyone else to develop and share as
fully as possible in the activities of all.
Belgium is pleased that organizations like your own are contributing
in such an efficient way to the realization of the objectives defined by
the international bodies.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs would like to express his very best
wishes for the success of this General Assembly and hopes that the work
carried out during its meeting will produce useful results.
Address by Mrs. C. Ruth
Cabinet Attache, Belgian Ministry of the French- Speaking
Community
The Minister of the French-speaking Community has asked me to
express his regrets that he is not able to be with you today: previous
engagements have prevented him from participating in this Opening
Ceremony of the Sixth World Assembly of the World Council for the
Welfare of the Bhnd.
He has also requested me to welcome on his behalf all the organiza-
tions assembled here and to w ish them success in their work.
25
It is, in fact, important to organize meetings such as these to enable
the participants to share the experiences of other countries and to
compare points of view on methods used and results obtained.
The subjects under discussion during the next few days show that
real social integration of the visually handicapped is one of the main
concerns of the organizations.
In Belgium, results of work in this field speak for themselves: there
are few drop-outs during training and practically no failures.
Tribute should be paid to their leaders, but also to the courage and
tenacity of the blind who wish to participate in the social and economic
life of their country.
The problem of handicapped persons has been covered by different
legislations which come under the responsibility of several Ministries.
Tentative solutions have been found at different levels. The Community
structure of Belgium has enabled the National Fund for the Social
Regrouping of the Handicapped, the Fund for Medico-Socio-
Pedagogical Care, and the granting of allowances to handicapped
persons, to be united under one Minister.
May these new structures bring about better understanding of
problems and above all their adequate solution.
During the Declaration of the Executive of the French Community
to the Cultural Council, the Minister gave the Community the task of
adopting a strategy for all, with particular attention to the most dis-
advantaged, and in cooperation with all, that is, with the interested
persons themselves.
Indeed, thanks to this, a continuous assessment of action taken by
the Government has been made possible. The Minister therefore hopes
to be able to count on the collaboration of welfare organizations for
the blind.
Finally, the Minister, Mr. Hansenne, has asked me to convey his
congratulations to the organizers of this Assembly, who have realized,
in tVk/o months, a meeting of such dimensions.
It is certain that this Sixth World Assembly of the World Council for
the Welfare of the Blind will be advantageous to everyone.
Response by the President
Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, to begin with T am anxious
to express on behalf of our World Council and on my own behalf
sincere gratitude to the governmental bodies of Belgium and to the
National Organization for the Blind of Belgium for an opportunity to
hold the Sixth General Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare
of the Blind in the city of Antwerp, for the kind attention and the fine
conditions provided for the successful functioning of the Assembly.
Here I would like to very cordially thank Monsieur Dyckmans and all
his assistants for the great efforts they have made in arranging the
working and social programmes of our Assembly here in Antwerp.
As you know, the success of our General Assembly depends to a
great extent on its programme. My thanks go therefore to Sir John
26
Wilson, Chairman of the Programme Committee, and to all the mem-
bers of the Committee for the immense job they have done to include
in the Agenda the most important and urgent questions concerning our
policy on future ways of integrating the blind and for their efforts in
providing new and interesting forums of discussion: I mean a session
of young leaders, working groups etc. . . .
I very much appreciate the fine work done by our Honorary Secretary
General, Mr. Anders Arnor, and his assistants working in the Paris
office — Mrs. Hilary Gohier and Miss Marina Magalofif — during the
whole quinquennium and especially in the course of preparation of the
General Assembly. I wish to thank them most sincerely on behalf of
the Executive Committee and on my own behalf.
27
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
by Mr. Robert K. A. Gardiner
Commissioner for Economic Planning, Ghana
Mr. President, ladies, gentlemen and distinguished guests, I am happy
and grateful to the Planning Committee for inviting me to take part in
the deliberations of this Assembly. 1 am particularly grateful to the
writers of the expert papers and reports for our study and discussion;
such papers present a wealth of scientific knowledge and experience,
and their value is incalculable. In preparing to be here with you, and in
refreshing my acquaintance with the work of the Council, I have found
the report of the proceedings of previous assemblies most helpful. This
type of material would not ordinarily be available to most parts of the
world and so the Assembly is a unique opportunity for the development
of a world outlook — a 20th Century outlook — on the problems affecting
the welfare of the blind and their solutions. I am also to express thanks
to the host committee and all who have contributed to setting the scene
for this meeting. Indeed, the title of this meeting may mean that we all
may be as one.
In the company of committed, devoted and experienced persons in the
work for the blind, I feel the need to declare my meagre credentials in
order to avoid unwarranted presumptions. My involvement in work for
the blind began in the 1950's with the Gold Coast (now Ghana) Society
for the Blind. The people and government of Ghana were becoming
aware that traditional social institutions were not coping effectively with
social needs in rapidly changing conditions. For example, migrations
from rural areas were depriving village communities of their young and
able-bodied men and women, and households made up of old persons
who could hardly fend for themselves were proving unequal to the task
of taking care of the blind and other handicapped persons. The effi-
ciency of extended family as a form of mutual aid and social security
was showing signs of breaking down.
It was under such circumstances that the Ghana Society for the
Blind was formed with government assistance. Some of us had the
privilege at that time of working with Sir John Wilson. In those
pioneering days he had already visited Ghana and reported on the high
incidence of blindness in the onchocerciasis valleys of the northern
Savannah Belts. The Ghana Department of Welfare Services for the
Blind served as a model for work initiated later in several African
countries. It is of some interest to recall that the first modern braille
code for languages in Black Africa was for Ghanaian languages (Fante,
Ga and Ewe).
In studying the literature for this meeting, I have formed the im-
pression that the Council does not operate as a major aid donor
organization nor does it raise funds for large-scale projects but the
28
problems and needs for which it expresses concern arouse voluntary
organizations, United Nations specialized agencies, the churches,
governments and international financial institutions to take necessary
action. A case in point is the Co-ordinated International Campaign
Against River Blindness in West Africa. The need for such action was
voiced by the Prevention of Blindness Committee of this Council. Now,
under the leadership of the World Bank, UNDP and WHO, several
governments (Britain, France, The Netherlands, West Germany,
United States, Belgium and Canada) are sponsoring a twenty-year
programme in seven African countries (Dahomey, Ghana, Ivory Coast,
Mali, Niger, Togo and Upper Volta) at a cost of 120 million dollars.
When the vectors are cleared or got under control, fertile valleys are to
be settled by peasant farming communities which will include large
proportions of blind persons. In playing such a role, the Council serves
as a catalyst.
The African countries concerned, some of them in the poor drought
afflicted countries in the Sahel, cannot finance such a project on their
own at the present time. Seventeen out of the 25 least developed and
poorest countries of the world are in Africa, south of the Sahara. The
problems of the development of the economies of these countries have
the direct bearing on the part they play in any common endeavour such
as the work of the World Council for the Welfare of the Bhnd. The poor
in Third World Countries, where some 80 per cent of visually handi-
capped persons are found, live, in the words of the President of the
World Bank, "in absolute poverty, characterized by malnutrition,
illiteracy, squalid surroundings, high infant mortality and low life
expectancy as to be beneath any reasonable definition of human
decency." The relevance of the work of this Council to the conditions
described by the President of the World Bank, is set out in the address
of the last assembly by Mr. Boulter when he said, "The majority of
those blind people whom we serve need never have become blind had
there existed in our countries adequate medical facilities or had appro-
priate standards of sanitation and hygiene been available universally.
Most of the blind people on our register would never have had their
names inscribed thereon."
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, this is not the time or place to
dwell at length on the international dialogue between the developed and
underdeveloped countries but a few remarks may help us to put our
problems in the right perspective. For instance, the ratio between
average incomes of the richest and poorest ten per cent of the world's
population is now 13 : I. Two-hundred years ago the ratio was 3 : 2.
The process of development has created inequahties which are in-
creasing. The developed countries of today enjoy the advantages of an
early start, accumulated knowledge, capital and experience. The late
starters seek arrangements which will stabilize the prices of their raw
materials and increase their export earnings. They also seek access to
the markets of industrialized countries for their semi-manufactures and
manufactures. This implies a reduction or removal of tariffs and the
liberalization of trade generally.
29
The debate of these problems continues in several forums, parti-
cularly in UNCTAD, United Nations Committee for Economic
Planning, United Nations Economic and Social Council and in con-
ferences convened by non-governmental bodies. Next year, when the
General Assembly of the United Nations discusses the strategy for the
third development decade, it will address itself to the demand of the
developing countries for the establishment of a new economic order. It
is recognized that the process of adjustment and accommodation is
needed to effect a peaceful transition to a new international division of
labour, equitable sharing of the gains of economic endeavour and a
stable world economy. Such changes would provide some basis for
equal relations among countries which come together to promote and
execute global programmes.
Out of the debate has emerged the concept of a basic needs strategy
for world economic development which aims at the elimination of
hunger and malnutrition, the provision of clothing, water, shelter,
health and education for the population of the world at an agreed
minimum level by the year 2000.
Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, you may have noticed that the
provision of basic needs corresponds to the removal of the charac-
teristics of poverty listed by the President of the World Bank and the
causes of blindness pinpointed by Mr. Eric Boulter. Coincidentally, the
year 2000 is over the target date for achieving the goals of the Inter-
national Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and for the World
Health Organization's target of health for all.
What I am suggesting is that, as citizens of the world, we cannot
ignore the discussions of the new international economic order which
will enable all countries to participate effectively and with dignity in the
global endeavour to rid the world of scourges and conflicts as well as to
develop understanding for some of the important causes of human
misery in our age.
I have been struck by the expressions "organizations of" and
"organizations for" the welfare of the blind. Such expressions mark
stages in the development of public concern for particular issues, in this
case for the provision of welfare services for the blind but naturally as
the services produce results the beneficiaries express a desire to parti-
cipate in the management of affairs which affect them intimately. Such
verbal distinction may be the source of friction but at present it seems
to me that the situation is sufficiently fluid and the Chairman of the
International Federation of the Blind has practically taken the words
out of my mouth. We should plan to anticipate future demands and
accusations of discrimination against disabled minorities.
The attendance at the Assembly shows that those who may be inclined
to think in terms of organizations of and organizations for the blind are
working together to build up enough strength for tackling specific
problems in partnership with vast intergovernmental and international
agencies. Ultimately we all look forward to a world council of and for
the bhnd. So far those who support and serve the Council are un-
daunted and undiscouraged. Some visually handicapped persons, by
helping themselves and cooperating with those who help them, have
30
risen above apparently insuperable barriers. May this unique collective
endeavour among individuals, groups, national and world bodies
continue to flourish in the interests of and for the benefit of men
everywhere.
The Council does not appear to have internal conflicts and con-
frontations— the ties that plague international organizations everywhere
today. Some of the economic issues I have touched on are taken care of
by the principle that regional needs be related to regional resources and
local activities should be based essentially on local resources supple-
mented where necessary with external resources in services and in
other ways. When I mentioned the possibility of racial tensions, I was
told by Sir John Wilson that an advantage in being blind is that the
blind are invariably colour blind.
How does the Council avoid conflicting ideologies, religions, terri-
torial claims — because they are all represented in the 70-odd member-
ship of this Council? Perhaps the answer to this lies in the unique
qualities of our President, Mr. Zimin. The welfare of the blind in the
USSR alone is a great challenge but for years you have sustained
services in your own country and presided over the affairs of this
Council with an impeccable record of impartiality. For this the world
will always remain indebted to you. When the day comes for you to
retire from the Chair, all of us, members and non-members of this
organization will miss you. May the performance of the Council
continue to be exemplary. Thank you.
31
IN MEMORIUM— A TRIBUTE BY THE PRESIDENT
And now. Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to say the following. Time
is inexorable and it is with deep regret that we have to announce the
passing away of several colleagues of ours who have given all their
talents and efforts to the noble cause of development of the welfare of
the visually handicapped.
Charles Hedkvist: For nearly 20 years Charles Hedkvist was the leading
personality of the blind in Sweden and the Scandinavian countries and,
in later years, a prominent figure in the international field. He was the
President of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and an
Honorary Life Member. Under his presidency the Council grew in
prestige and effectiveness especially in the strengthening of its relations
with the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies.
Eero Hakkinen: He took part in all the General Assemblies of the
World Council and was elected to its Executive Committee and became
a Vice-President of the World Council. He was an active member of the
International Council for the Executive of the Visually Handicapped,
where he served two terms on the Executive Committee.
Mrs. Queenie Captain: Her outstanding organizational ability, her
complete confidence in and encouragement of those v.'ho worked with
her, have been mainly responsible for the Indian National Association
for the Blind's reputation of being one of the fastest developing social
welfare organizations in the world.
John Jarvis: He served as Secretary General of the World Council. It
can be claimed without fear of contradiction that the level, growth and
influence that the World Council achieved during this period was
attributable in very large measure to the administrative ability and
devotion that John Jarvis brought to his important office.
Don Ignacio Satrustegui: Member of the Executive Committee of the
World Council and an Honorary Life Member. He was one of the most
outstanding leaders of the blind within the Spanish National Organiza-
tion and in international work for the blind.
Richard Kinney: Dr. Kinney was an outstanding leader of the deaf-
blind throughout the world. For a long time he headed the Hadley
School for the Blind. He was Chairman of WCWB Committee on
Services to the Deaf-Blind and an initiator and organizer of the First
World Conference on Services to Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults,
which drafted the Declaration of Rights of the Deaf-Blind.
They were all our friends and they will long be remembered for their
devotion to the blind. And now I would ask you to kindly stand up and
observe a minute's silent tribute to our departed friends.
32
MESSAGES
A number of messages were received, some of which are reproduced
below:
Ainadou-Mahtar M'Bow, Director-General, United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
I should like, on behalf of UNESCO, and in my own name to convey
cordial greetings to the participants of the Sixth World Assembly of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind.
Since its foundation your organization has made great efforts in
favour of the blind which are in line both with Unesco's concern for
the handicapped and its general policy concerning the rights of man.
The work carried out by your General Assembly should contribute to
the furthering of such praiseworthy action, and I wish you every success.
Estefania Aldaba-Lim, Special Representative, International Year of the
Child
Please accept my sincerest congratulations on your tremendous
initiative in the UN International Year of the Child in holding the
Sixth World Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind. It is of particular significance that this year, when more than 146
participating governments, and individuals and organizations alike are
promoting the cause of mankind's most precious, vulnerable and
totally dependent resource— our children — that your gathering of
experts should devote a whole session to the rights of blind children.
Apart from the integral rights of the child as enunciated in the UN
Declaration the world owes a special duty to those children who are
disadvantaged in this way. The massive and cruel waste on armaments
is a daily reminder of the real resources we can command if we have a
global will to give our children the best we have to give. I commend
your pioneering work and hope your earnest and workmanlike dis-
cussions will inspire others to help prevent blindness in children and
arrest eye diseases at an early age. We adults owe these children a
joyous vision of the future.
Rehabilitation International extends all good wishes for the success of
your congress and values your continued cooperation.
James L. Bomar, Jr., President-Elect, Rotary International
On behalf of Rotary International, I wish you all success in your
efforts to seek and carry out effective programmes to aid the blind.
Rotarians worldwide share your concern for the welfare of the blind as
exemplified by the many eye camps sponsored by the Rotary clubs of
Southern Asia. Rotary is also proud of its many members who have been
so active in programmes benefitting the blind, such as Sir John Wilson,
Chairman of your Programme Committee, and Rotary International
33
Past Director Soli Pavri, of Bombay, India, who has been active in the
work of the National Association for the Blind in India.
May your service and the service of Rotary clubs and Rotarians
worldwide continue to light the way for the blind.
Several messages were received from governments, national organiza-
tions of and for the blind, institutions, etc.
ELECTION OF COMMITTEES
Credentials and Proxies Committee: Resolutions Committee:
Mr. Loyal E. Apple, Chairman Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, Chairman
Dr. Claude Chambet Sheikh A. Al-Ghanim
Mr. John C. Colligan, C.B.E. Mr. GeoflFrey F. Gibbs
Miss Winnie Ng Mr. Ismai'la Konate
Mr. Oral O. Miller
Nominations Committee: Dr. Helmut Pielasch
Captain H. Desai, Chairman Mrs. E. Molina de Stahl
Mr. M. Djelloul Dr. Rajendra T. Vyas
Dr. H. Geissler
Mr. Nihad Murad
Mr. H. Pradilla-Cobos
Mr. Ross C. Purse
Prof. Tibor Vas
34
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 1
COOPERATION IN HUMAN RIGHTS
Wednesday afternoon, August 1, 1979
Chairman: Mr. Eric T. Boulter, C.B.E., United Kingdom
THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED— COOPERATION OF
ORGANIZATIONS OF AND FOR THE BLIND IN PROMOTING
THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED WITHIN THE GENERAL
CONTEXT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND IN ACTION TO SUPOPRT
THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR THE DISABLED— 1981'
The subject of this paper as it was proposed by the Programme
Committee of your Assembly contains three separate though closely
related items which it is my intention to discuss separately under the
relevant headings. Accordingly, I would like to take first the question
of the rights of the disabled.
As you may know, the United Nations General Assembly at its 30th
session in 1975 proclaimed the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled
Persons. In doing so, the Assembly reconfirmed its faith in human rights
and fundamental freedom and in the principles of peace, the dignity and
worth of the human person and the promotion of social justice, as
proclaimed by the Charter of the United Nations, and recalled the
principles laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and other related declarations.
The Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons contains the
following rights among others :
— The inherent right to respect for their human dignity;
— -The same fundamental rights as their fellow-citizens of the same
age;
— The right to enjoy a decent life, as normal and full as possible;
— The right to the measures designed to enable them to become as
self-reliant as possible;
— The right to the rehabilitation and other services which will hasten
the process of their social integration or reintegration ;
— The right to economic and social security.
( Paper prepared for presentation at the 6th General Assembly of the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind, 1-10 August 1979 at Antwerp, Belgium by
Esko Kosunen, Senior Social Affairs Officer (International Year for Disabled
Persons) Centre for Social Development and Humanitarian Affairs).
35
Til proclaiming the Declaration the General Assembly also called
"for national and international action to cnsme that it will be used as a
common basis and frame of reference for the protection of these rights".
No doubt the process of social integration of disabled persons into
society would be greatly enhanced if the governments of all countries
would' recognize these rights and make conscious efforts to uphold and
implement them through practical measures.
A report on the implementation of the Declaration in different
countries was recently (in February 1979) before the United Nations
Commission for Social Development as an annex to the report of the
Secretary-General on the World Social Situation in 1978. The report
reveals that the Declaration apparently has not yet led to any practical
measures. Several countries have indicated that the existing legislation
and rehabilitation services guarantee an implementation of the rights
proclaimed in the Declaration. Others have suggested that measures
that were under consideration at the time of reporting were likely to
achieve the same. In a few replies, however, it was clearly recognized
that even with a well developed system of rehabilitation services many
things still needed to be done in order to ensure full equality to disabled
persons regarding the enjoyment of commonly available services in a
modern society. In one country's reply for instance it was pointed out
that measures needed to be taken to render cultural services more
accessible and useable so that the blind, among other things, could read
or listen to books, periodicals and newspapers that are readily available
to other people in society. Equality of opportunity in this respect, as
you well know, is still far away.
No further action concerning the Declaration and its implementation
was suggested by the Commission nor by the Economic and Social
Council which had the report before it at its first regular session in
April 1979. However, the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind
used the opportunity of submitting to the Council a statement con-
taining the text of the Declaration of the Rights of Deaf-Blind Persons.
On the basis of that statement, the delegation of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland submitted to the Council a
draft decision with a view to bringing this Declaration to the attention
of the United Nations General Assembly at its 34th session to take place
late this year. This proposal was approved by the Council and, accor-
dingly, the Declaration of the Rights of Deaf-Blind Persons will be
considered by the General Assembly under item "International Year
for Disabled Persons".
Cooperation between the United Nations and Non-Governmental
Organizations
What was just said about the action of the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind is also a good example of the possibilities that
exist for the participation and involvement of non-governmental
organizations in the activities of the United Nations and also for co-
operation between these organizations. The initiative of the WCWB has
36
led to an important decision by the Economic and Social Council which
may result in further action by the United Nations. This initiative was
possible because the WCWB has a consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council and can thus submit statements to that body.
Another channel for close cooperation between the United Nations, its
specialized agencies and non-governmental organizations, such as the
WCWB is offered within the framework of the Ad Hoc Inter-Agency
Meetings on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation. These meetings
have been held on a regular basis since 1950 and are attended by
representatives of the interested United Nations offices and agencies,
such as the United Nations Centre for Social Development and
Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Development Programme,
United Nations Children's Fund, WHO, UNESCO, ILO, International
Social Security Association as well as the Council of World Organiza-
tions Interested in the Handicapped. Through the last mentioned body
a representative of the WCWB has also been among the regular
participants of the inter-agency meetings. Many initiatives taken in the
inter-agency meetings have led to action benefitting the blind and other
disabled persons. I mention only a few of these in this connection:
— At its 1970 session the Ad Hoc Inter- Agency meeting recom-
mended the inclusion into the work programme of the United
Nations Social Development Division of a study of rehabilitation
services for the blind in developing countries. Accordingly, sich a
study was planned and carried out by the United Nations in co-
operation wdth the ILO, WHO, UNESCO, Helen Keller Inter-
national and the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, as
well as WCWB. The document "Rehabilitation Services for the
Blind in Developing Countries" was published in 1977 for the
United Nations by the WCWB in cooperation with the American
Foundation for the Blind and Helen Keller International which
provided editorial and production services.
— At another initiative of your late President, Dr. Charles Hedkvist,
a special session of the 1975 Ad Hoc Inter- Agency meeting was
devoted to an examination of the findings of the above study. At
this session, certain guidelines for future development of services
for the blind were agreed upon. These guidelines, covering preven-
tion of blindness, education, vocational rehabilitation and pro-
duction of braille and talking books, as well as the supply of
technical aids, were incorporated into the published document.
— Thirdly, I should like to mention a more general achievement: At
the initiative of a recent Ad Hoc Inter-Agency meeting, the United
Nations Development Programme issued in April 1978 a Technical
Advisory Note on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of the
Disabled, which Note describes different aspects of the problem of
disability and indicates ways and sources for technical assistance
in this field. The Note is available in UNDP field offices in develop-
ing countries and may be helpful to governments interested in
obtaining external help for the improvement of services in this area.
37
Support of the International Year for Disabled Persons
By the proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly, 1981
will be celebrated as the International Year for Disabled Persons with
"full participation" as its theme. Its objectives are to promote services
for disability prevention and rehabilitation, to encourage research
designed to facilitate the practical participation of disabled persons in
daily life and to educate and inform the public of the rights of disabled
persons to participate in and contribute to various aspects of economic,
social and political life.
In proclaiming the Year, the General Assembly invited "all Member
States and the organizations concerned to give their attention to the
establishment of measures and programmes to implement the objectives
of the International Year for Disabled Persons". Accordingly, it is
hoped that also the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and its
affiliates in different countries will keep this matter in mind in planning
their activities for the next two years. It is, of course, extremely im-
portant for the success of the Year that disabled persons will take an
active role in the Year's observance.
A draft international programme for the year was considered by the
Advisory Committee for the International Year for Disabled Persons
at its meeting in March 1979. The Committee is composed of the
representatives of 23 different countries of which one is the host to your
Assembly, Belgium. The Committee adopted a number of recommenda-
tions concerning activities at the national, regional and international
levels. These recommendations will be submitted in a report of the
Secretary-General to the consideration of the 34th Session of the United
Nations General Assembly, which will begin its work in coming
September. This same session of the Assembly will thus consider two
items of importance to the participants of this Assembly: the Delcara-
tion of the Rights of Deaf-Blind Persons and the Programme for the
International Year for Disabled Persons.
In this connection, I would like to mention, briefly, some of the
committee's recommendations that might be of particular interest to
your Assembly. These are as follows:
— Preparation of a draft long-term programme of action in con-
sultation with Member States, specialized agencies of the United
Nations and international non-governmental organizations of and
for the disabled; the purpose of the programme would be to help
implement the objectives of the I YDP as well as the principles laid
down in the Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons and, in
particular, assist developing countries in this respect;
— Organization of a symposium of experts in 1981 on ways and
means of promoting technical cooperation in the field of re-
habilitation of disabled persons, particularly between developing
countries ;
— Organization of regional meetings, i.e. of officers responsible for
national programmes on the prevention of disability and re-
habilitation of disabled persons ;
38
— Widest possible dissemination of the technical advisory note on
disability prevention and rehabilitation prepared by the United
Nations Development Programme in 1978;
— Adoption by United Nations agencies of the policy of employing
niore disabled persons in their staffs;
— Adoption by the United Nations agencies of the policy of holding
their meetings, to the extent possible, where the facilities provided
are accessible to all, including users of wheelchairs, the blind and
the deaf;
— Adoption of measures by which the means of international pas-
senger transport (by air, rail, road or ship) as well as the respective
terminal facilities could be rendered accessible to all ;
— Preparation of a series of manuals on eliminating or modifying
architectural barriers ;
— Facilitation of the exchange of experience among countries in the
field of rehabilitation (fellowship holders should include disabled
persons) ;
— Encouragement of activities of the organizations of disabled
persons to contribute to the promotion of world peace and peaceful
relations among States and peoples and encouraging disabled
persons to organize themselves all over the world;
— Launching a public information campaign to disseminate in-
formation on the objectives of lYDP, enlighten the public and
heighten its awareness of the rights of disabled persons to partici-
pate in and contribute to the economic, social and political life of
their societies.
As was said a while ago, the final decision on this and other recom-
mendations of the Committee will be made by the General Assembly
in which all the Member States of the United Nations will have the
opportunity of expressing their views on these recommendations.
It should be emphasized, however, that a major part of the lYDP
activities is expected to take place at the national level, hopefully in
every country. All interested groups and organizations are invited to
participate in those activities and not only to participate but also to
plan, initiate and carry out activities of their own. Each country and
each group or organization may want to choose its own ways of
observing the Year. A common goal for these activities might be to
increase public understanding of the disability and the awareness of the
general public of the problems the disability can bring about. The
Year's activities might also be aimed at promoting the extension of
rehabilitation services, so that these could be reached by all or at least a
great majority of disabled persons in each country and at reducing or
even eliminating the obstacles that there still might be to the integration
of disabled persons into society and to their full participation in all
aspects of society's life.
The United Nations has long enjoyed the active cooperation of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and its officers. We hope to
39
be able to continue enjoying it, particularly now when preparations are
under way for the International Year for Disabled Persons and es-
pecially during the Year itself.
I should like to express my best wishes for a most successful Assembly
and hope that its deliberations and decisions result in improvements of
conditions of blind people in all parts of the world.
40
THE RIGHTS OF THE BLIND CHILD
by Dr. Michael Irwin
UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh
The Rights of the Bhnd Child obviously will not be less than the
rights of the sighted child.
In November 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted
the Declaration of the Rights of the Child. Basically, the ten carefully -
worded principles of this Declaration state that all children are entitled
to:
1. the enjoyment of the rights mentioned, without any exception,
regardless of race, colour, sex, religion or nationality;
2. special protection, opportunities and facilities to enable them to
develop in a healthy and normal manner, in freedom and dignity;
3. a name and a nationality;
4. social security, including adequate nutrition, housing, recreation
and medical services;
5. special treatment, education and care if handicapped;
6. love and understanding, and an atmosphere of affection and
security, in the care and under the responsibility of their parents
whenever possible;
7. free education and recreation, and equal opportunity to develop
their individual abilities;
8. prompt protection and relief in times of disaster;
9. protection against all forms of neglect, cruelty and exploitation;
and
10. protection from any form of racial, religious or other discrimina-
tion, and an upbringing in a spirit of peace and universal brotherhood.
Although there are many sighted and blind children, especially those
living in the richer countries of the world, who already have most of
these "Rights", the situation is unfortunately very different for millions
and millions of children in the less developed countries who receive no
basic medical attention, enjoy no primary educational facilities, and
live short and deprived lives in areas of great poverty.
However, we must not consider the Declaration of the Rights of the
Child as simply a "piece of paper" just because the Rights it proclaims
are still unavailable to so many children. The fact that there is general
recognition that these Rights exist is a vital first step to achieving them.
We should remember that in many parts of the world, it is really not
long ago when child labour was a common practice, and where medical
care and free education have only become widely available fairly
recently.
41
I am sure we can all support the statement in the Preamble of the
Declaration of the Rights of the Child that "Mankind owes to the child
the best it has to give." Also, we will all agree with the remark by Mr.
Nehru, when he was Prime Minister of India, that "No work can be
more important than the care of the child." Such statements are
especially true of the child who has a severe handicap. All the principles
of the U.N. Declaration can be easily applied to the special situation
of the blind child. Moreover, we are very much concerned that the
blind child must not be neglected because of his or her handicap; and
also we reahze that in raising the blind child one must not be over-
protective. It is vital for the blind child to become as self-reliant as is
possible, compared with sighted children, and to grow into a truly
contributory member of Society, who eventually obtains considerable
economic security.
Of course, I hope that one does not have to emphasize that perhaps
the most important Right of any Blind Child is the Right to See, if an
operation could provide sight. Although I am told that only about 5
per cent of blind children in the world (such as those with congenital
cataracts) could have their birthright of sight restored with corrective
surgery, it is obvious that nothing should prevent such treatment being
provided for these children (and especially if the only reason is poverty).
Because of its magnitude, a word must be said about the prevention
of nutritional bhndness which is a major cause of blindness today
among children in Africa and Asia. It is estimated that at least 100,000
children are going blind every year from xerophthalmia. Emergency
measures, in some countries, for dealing with this disease involve the
massive distribution of high-potency vitamin A capsules (for example,
in Bangladesh, UNICEF is importing 30 million of these capsules
annually). But, more important, the long-range solution is to improve
children's diets by widespread educational programmes.
Having just mentioned UNICEF, as I am here at this World Assembly
to represent that organization, and as the WCWB is one of the non-
governmental bodies which has consultative status with our Executive
Board, I would now like to say a few words about UNICEF. As it is an
inter-governmental organization, our main contacts are usually with
Government agencies. Our principle objective, of course, is to help the
development of services for children, especially for the children in the
poorest parts of the world, such as those in the rural areas and urban
slums of the developing countries.
In the past, because we have to consider the priorities set by indivi-
dual governments, projects for children already handicapped have
unfortunately received a fairly low priority, although UNICEF's
resources have been used to support centres for the training of teachers
for the blind, and for providing some essential equipment. But, we have
the important responsibility in UNICEF of advocating for the rights of
children, and encouraging governments to focus more and more
attention on projects for children. In fact, together with many non-
governmental organizations, we can try to show the path along which
governments can go. And, although I expect UNICEF's general policy
with respect to services for blind children will mainly continue to be
42
that prevention should come first (through various health and nutrition
projects), I believe that we will, in future, be gradually doing more for
blind children throughout the world. Today, we are looking for ways to
increase our cooperation with both governmental and non-governmental
agencies which are involved with projects for handicapped children
(blind, deaf and crippled) in developing countries. One example of this
is that, last year, UNICEF asked Rehabilitation International to make
a study on "Serving the Needs of the World's Disabled Children", and
this report will be presented to our Executive Board next May.
We are very uncertain just how many blind children there are in the
world today, and how many of them receive any form of special care or
education. In Bangladesh, where I have worked since February 1977,
we believe that there are about 200,000 blind children, under the age of
16, with less than 1,000 at present being helped, by either a government
or non-government agency, to become self-reliant. In India, the figure
is at least 250,000, and some estimates go as high as one million in that
country, with only 15,000 or so being assisted. In Africa, the figures are
naturally not as great as in Asia, but there are still many blind children
on this continent who wait for special attention. This is a depressing
picture. And, in the developing world of Africa, Asia, Latin America
and the Middle East, the situation of the average blind child is un-
fortunately likely to get worse as populations increase and put additional
strains on the existing services: the World Bank estimates that in most
low-income countries, the number of children will be almost twice as
large in the year 2000 as it was in 1975.
Because only a relatively small percentage of blind children, in the
poorer countries of the world, receive any kind of special care, a very
important Right now for the rest of them, in these areas, is simply to
have a Future which is better than the Present. To help the large
numbers of blind children in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the
Middle East, much more needs to be done. Unfortunately, because of
the many priorities existing in these less developed countries, pro-
grammes to provide special assistance for blind children receive rela-
tively little financial support from local resources. Non-governmental
organizations, such as those which most of you represent at this
WCWB World Assembly, have a major role to play in trying to generate
greater interest, and provide more financial aid, for projects for blind
children throughout the world.
In countries like Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Pakistan (just to
name a few), where so many blind children are often the most vulner-
able, the most neglected and the most deprived of all children, a little
money can go a long way. I will give you an example, in which I am
personally involved. In April 1978, a new non-governmental organiza-
tion called Assistance for Blind Children (or simply, ABC) was estab-
lished in Bangladesh. We have been fortunate in receiving financial
support from Christoffel Blindenmission and the Royal Commonwealth
Society for the Blind, and from groups and individuals in Bangladesh,
the Federal Republic of Germany, France, the Netherlands, Switzer-
land, the United Kingdom and the United States. In Bangladesh, the
construction of a hostel for at least ten blind children, at a school where
43
an integrated education programme exists, costs about S2,700; §20 a
month will pay for all the expenses of a blind child residing and studying
in one of these hostels; and the total cost of removing a congenital
cataract is around S25.
In thinking of the rehabilitation of blind children in the less developed
countries, much great attention must be given now, than in the past, to
the large majority who live in the rural areas, who have little oppor-
tunity of being included in the projects which are usually located in the
towns and cities. This is where the need for special services is usually
the greatest. Many of the rural blind children simply do not participate
at all in either home or village life but remain dependent on others
(later, when old enough, some are sent out to beg). These blind children
need to be helped to share in the daily activities of village life and to get
involved in productive work such as poultry raising, fruit and vegetable
growing, and local crafts. In Bangladesh, ABC is beginning such a
project, but it will only be able to help a few children each year. Pro-
grammes already developed for adult blind persons, in rural areas, by
Christoffel Blindenmission, Helen Keller International and the Royal
Commonwealth Society for the Blind, in Africa and Asia, are en-
couraging but more needs to be done, and especially for children.
1979 has been proclaimed as the International Year of the Child.
Although this is a year dedicated to the well-being of all children in all
countries, certain issues affecting children will be attracting special
attention. For us, at this WCWB World Assembly, it should be the
blind child: our increasing concern for this child could perhaps be
demonstrated by establishing a Technical Committee on Services for
Blind Children. Such a specialized group could function like the other
WCWB technical bodies: it could assist in coordinating our efforts, and
developing projects, for blind children throughout the world, and thus
help to obtain more Rights for many children, who are presently
denied them. I believe this would be a most appropriate step for us to
take, for all blind children, in this International Year of the Child.
44
THE RIGHT TO UNDERSTANDING -THE PRACTICAL OBJEC-
TIVES OF A PUBLIC RELATIONS PROGRAMME TO COUNTER
MYTHS ABOUT BLINDNESS AND TO PROMOTE UNDER-
STANDING
by Pedro Zarita
Head of International Relations Department
National Organization of the Blind, Spain
Those of us who are involved in organizational work for the bhnd
quite frequently write and say that there do exist prejudices about
blindness and its consequences. Prejudices are a serious obstacle for the
attainment of the true integration of the visually handicapped in the
general community. Therefore it is natural that we include among our
most cherished aspirations the achievement of a positive understanding
and acceptance of our situation by sighted people.
This General Assembly presents us with an exceptional opportunity
to do some reflecting on this subject. One would also want to offer at
this time valid suggestions with regard to the principles that ought to
guide our actions in this specific matter. We know that prejudices and
myths about blindness have an intellectual foundation. They can also
find their roots in emotions. The most frequent case, however, is that
both causes go together. We do not understand blind people because
we totally ignore their problems and characteristics or we know them
in a very imperfect way. We judge their situation in a negative manner
because the loss of visual ability is felt to be a very serious defect. It is
therefore extremely difficult to appreciate the true consequences of that
reality.
Intellectual misunderstanding derives from ignorance or imperfect
knowledge. It may also find an important reinforcement in our abstrac-
tion ability, in our need to pigeonhole and to generalize. It is best to
remember that every generalization is based on the observation of
common features neglecting a whole series of diff'erences. When refer-
ring to human beings the dangers of inadequate understanding are
enormous.
In many cases we make assertions about a given human group on the
basis of limited knowledge we possess about one or two of its members.
Thus for example our idea about the blind is formed from our contact
with a relative, a working fellow, a neighbour, or that person we meet
everyday at the bus stop. This is a vulgar non scientific abstraction. But
unfortunately, it is not an unusual phenomenon in our way of building
attitudes and behaviours towards the world in general and mankind in
particular. Psychology and sociology pretend that their conclusions
should be backed by in-depth studies with a number of people large
45
enough to constitute representative samples. However, the results of
their investigations are often misinterpreted and scientists and laymen
get from them false ideas. If a comparative study shows that Group X
is more intelligent than Group Y the only thing that we can justly infer
is that statistically that superiority occurs. We cannot admit however
that any member of Group X considers himself automatically for that
reason superior to any member of Group Y. I have no doubts that this
misinterpretation helps to perpetuate the misunderstanding of sexual
and racial differences, of the differences existing in real terms between
the persons we name as "able" and those we label as "disabled".
In our writings and conversations we frequently attribute all the
responsibihty of misunderstanding to the "other" — in this specific case,
the sighted. We forget however that the leaders of the organizations of
the blind regardless of whether they are blind or sighted, also share in
human nature and are consequently in no way free of its vices and
errors. Moved by a positive desire to fight against the environmental
injustice with regard to a good understanding of bhndness, we are
excessively prone to simplify and positivize our situation. We talk about
the blind as though our personalities were essentially identical and we
insist on our potentials and abilities without mentioning our problems
and difficulties.
Do you not agree that the exercise of a positive self criticism would
be very beneficial? Do you not think that it would be necessary to
contribute positively to the achievement not only of a condition of first
class citizenship but also a condition of human beings endowed with a
strictly individual personality ? Do you not consider that the impact of
blindness is unique for each individual on account of his or her personal
characteristics and as a consequence of the family, environmental,
social, political, geographic, historical circumstances? I am not at all
intending to minimize the objective difficulties that blindness implies.
I am firmly convinced however that important as it is blindness is only
one factor among the constellation of features which constitute one's
personality. It is not the same whether blindness is total or partial,
whether it is from birth or has occurred in childhood, youth, adult fife
or old age. Its consequences vary according to the attitudes and
reactions of the family and of the members of the group with which we
are most immediately connected. It is not the same to be blind in a
society where a given life philosophy is prevalent or in another ruled by
a radically different one. It is not the same to be blind in a community
inspired by this or that socio-political practice. It is not the same to
have been blind in 1910 or in 1979. And, of course, our physical and
intellectual features, our temperament, in a word, our personality, play
a decisive role.
Our public relations programmes should therefore always bear in
mind that blind people are first and above all human beings with an
individual personality, that their abilities vary from one another, that
they have the right to succeed in life but also the right to fail, that what
they wish is to have the opportunity of self realization, that their ideal
is that one day physical and intellectual differences, diversity in skin
colour, being a woman or a man, to see or not to see, to have the ability
46
of walking normally or be compelled to move in a wheelchair should
not be in any way points of discrimination. Integration for each and
everyone should really be possible by creating suitable conditions so
that the enjoyment of social opportunities should depend only on our
real individual characteristics. That is an unreachable Utopia, many of
you will say. However, we should not forget that if we do not set
ourselves ideal targets it is very unlikely that we will find the necessary
moral strength to work towards the attainment of a society based on a
true solidarity. This should eliminate the all too prevalent notion of
competition in which some get lost and others fall by the wayside.
I am totally aware that we have to be realistic and that we have to
find ways and means to improve our situation here and now. It will
often be necessary to adjust ourselves to the circumstances that sur-
round us. I also think however that it is desirable to have a certain
degree of healthy dissatisfaction, that it is essentially a certain creative
tension which makes human progress genuinely possible. It is also
realistic to assert that if the efforts in the field of education and re-
habilitation are not combined with a determined action to obtain more
just laws, more communal attitudes and behaviours, we will only be
serving a minority, an elite and integration will have an unjustly limited
value. We would fail in the attainment of our objectives if we perform
in such a way that socialization forces the individuals to become
stereotypes instead of fostering the development of their potentials
without terms of comparison. There is no reason to abandon our aim
of achieving equality but we should insist much more on our right to
be different.
47
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 2
COOPERATION WITHIN BLIND WELFARE
Thursday morning, August 2, 1979
Chairman: Mr. Arne Husveg, Norway
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR STIMULATING
ORGANIZATIONAL COOPERATION
by Arne Husveg, Chairman
The Committee was estabhshed after the last General Assembly of
the WCWB with the following members :
Arne Husveg, Norway, Chairman
Leonard de Wulf, Belgium
Ron Chandran- Dudley, Singapore
Alassane Fall, Senegal
Helmut Pielasch, G.D.R.
Mohammed Rajhi, Tunisia
Franz Sonntag, F.R.G.
The main tasks of the committee were :
(a) to promote cooperation between organizations of and for the
blind;
(b) to establish organizations of or for the blind in countries where
these organizations do not exist.
The Committee has held one meeting in Algiers, November 23-25,
1976 where a working programme was drawn up. A detailed report
from the meeting was presented at the meeting of the Executive Com-
mittee of the WCWB at Riyadh in March 1977. I quote from the report :
"The Committee decided that the first step must be to make a reliable
survey to ascertain which countries have organizations for the blind, of
the blind, or both, and which countries lack such organizations al-
together. With this in view, a questionnaire will be circulated to the
member organizations of the WCWB and the IFB and to govermnents
in countries where neither of the two world organizations have affiliates.
On the basis of the results of this first survey a more detailed question-
naire will be circulated with emphasis on the particular problems in the
individual countries.
"The Committee is of the opinion that concrete measures should be
taken as soon as sufficient material is available from these question-
48
naires. Such measures should include:
(a) Persuading governments to include in their working programmes
proposals for the social, cultural and occupational rehabilitation
of the blind,
(b) Urging the practical participation of international organizations
and groups of cooperating states by the provision of finance and
expertise for projects within blind welfare,
(c) Promoting understanding and cooperation between organizations
of the blind and for the blind in each individual country both for
short-term projects and on a permanent basis,
(d) Taking steps to establish organizations in countries where no blind
organizations exist. The Committee is aware that the meeting of
Honorary Officers in Helsinki, 1976, decided that the Committee's
mandate should include the establishment of organizations both
for and of the blind. However, bearing in mind the limited re-
sources of the Committee — both practical and financial — it is felt
that priority must be given to the promotion of organizations of
the blind. In the case of a government showing interest in taking
an active part in establishing a national blind organization, such
an initiative should be welcomed."
As emphasized in my report to the Executive Committee, I have felt
far from confident about the wisdom of carrying through an active
policy according to the mandate of the Committee at a time when
strenuous efforts are being made by many persons and organizations
to promote an amalgamation of the two world organizations v/ithin
blind welfare. An active policy would, in my opinion, entail visits by
the chairman or other members of the Committee to different countries
and concrete steps towards establishing blind organizations in these
countries. In the existing situation such initiatives could easily lead to
conflicts with existing agencies and the good work of increasing under-
standing and cooperation between the two world organizations might
easily be jeopardized.
After much heart-searching I therefore came to the conclusion that
the cause would be best served by a policy of "wait and see" until the
next General Assembly of the WCWB. I would stress that this decision
is entirely the responsibility of the chairman and does not necessarily
reflect the views of the other members of the Committee. I may add
that the latest moves by the Scandinavian blind organizations and the
presidia of the European committee of the two world organizations
towards the achievement of one world organization of the blind, has
made me feel even more justified in my attitude.
The next Executive Committee of the WCWB will have to decide
whether the Committee on Stimulating Organizational Cooperation
should be dissolved or continue under a new chairman. Other decisions
made at this General Assembly will probably have a strong bearing on
the conclusions reached by the executive committee in this respect. If
it is decided that the Committee should continue its work, it is my
strong opinion that the mandate should be promoted with caution and
restraint.
49
SUBMISSION OF JOINT WCWB/IFB OFFICERS RESOLUTION
The Honorary Officers of IFB and WCWB who met in Bad Berleburg
on February 27-28, 1979 recommend for adoption to the General
Assemblies of both Organizations in 1979 the following resolution:
Preamble
This General Assembly RECOGNIZES the valuable contribution
that has been and is being made in many countries to improve the
conditions of the blind through the operation of programs by organiza-
tions for the blind. It also appreciates the initiatives that have been
taken by individuals and organizations for the blind to educate and
train blind people to be useful and independent citizens.
It also RECOGNIZES that the historical development of private
initiatives has made blind people aware of their own conditions resulting
in the creation of independent and influential organizations of the blind.
This General Assembly further ACCEPTS that both organizations
of and for the blind need and have a claim to a forum for an inter-
national exchange of knowledge and experience.
This General Assembly also RECOGNIZES that in some parts of
the world the creation of viable organizations of bhnd people still is
extremely difficult, and in such cases the operation of services of benefit
for blind people by organizations for the blind should be maintained
and encouraged. It is its firm belief that in all parts of the world every
effort must be made to establish responsible organizations of blind
people, and that all organizations for the blind should be called on to
stimulate the development of such Bodies and agree to full participation
of competent blind people at the policy making and management levels
of the organizations for the blind.
This General Assembly IS OF THE OPINION that the development
in most countries has reached the stage where the blind people can
effectively participate in determining programs for their own betterment.
This General Assembly therefore REGRETS the fact that in some
countries there is little cooperation between organizations for the blind
and the organizations of the blind. Frequently, the organizations for the
blind are so dominant that an organization of the bUnd can neither be
created nor function eff'ectively. It strongly believes, that there should
be established at all levels a permanent, cooperative and effective
relationship between them, as they exist today, as both have great
merit and to a great extent are interdependent.
This General Assembly therefore DECLARES, that the development
has resulted in undesirable difficulties thus creating misunderstanding,
confusion and duplication of efforts on the international as well as the
regional level, with the consequential dissipation of resources.
In order to avoid these difficulties this General Assembly AGREES
to convene the 1984 Assembly as a joint meeting of IFB and WCWB
50
at which the formation of a new organization should be discussed with
the objective to represent the interests of both organizations of and for
the BHnd. One of its major purposes should be to ensure the develop-
ment in all countries of mature, responsible, independent blind people
who will be given a maximum opportunity for determining the policies
and administering the programs which directly affect their lives. This
new Body shall be constituted in such a way that, at least half the
number of the national representatives must be nominated by the
national organizations of the blind.
In pursuance of the above statements this General Assembly makes
the following recommendations :
(1) that the General Assemblies of the two organizations to be held in
1979 agree that the General Assemblies to be held in 1984 should
take the form of a joint IFB/WCWB-meeting.
(2) that at the General Assemblies 1979 there should be created a joint
working group of 3 representatives of each organization under the
chairmanship of a person to be agreed by both sides. This working
group shall be responsible for submitting to the two Executive
Committees which shall meet simultaneously in 1981:
(a) draft program for the joint 1984 General A.ssembly.
(b) proposals covering the future relationship between the two
organizations, inter alia, draft proposals for a constitution
for a new organization, if the idea of such organization is
acceptable and approved by the two Assemblies of 1979,
(c) study the feasibility of establishing a joint secretariat and
possible timing of its creation.
(3) That the Honorary Officers of IFB and WCWB at the world level
until 1984 shall meet jointly from time to time to plan combined
activities and events.
(4) That the Honorary Officers of Regional Committees where such
Committees exist, until 1984 shall be recommended to hold joint
meetings. It shall be their objective to evolve plans leading to the
convening of joint Regional Assemblies and other activities and
events.
(5) That in each member country, where appropriate, national co-
ordinating committees must be set up, with representatives from
both IFB and WCWB affiliates, with a view to ensuring, inter alia,
that wherever possible the national delegations to the WCWB-
General Assembly in 1984 shall include representatives nominated
by the recognized national organization(s) of the blind.
(6) That the consultation at all levels between IFB and WCWB shall
be strengthened. Should either organization wish to launch any
event, activity or campaign, early notice should be given to the
other organization so that it may indicate, whether in its view the
matter shall be dealt with on the basis of joint action.
Bad Berleburg, February 28, 1979.
51
International Federation World Council for the Welfare
of the Blind of the Blind
Fatima Shah \ Boris Zimin
Tom Parker Dorina de Gouvea Nowill
Abdullah al Ghanim Abdullah al Ghanim
Franz Sonntag Hideyuki Iwahashi
Leonard de Wulf John C. Colligan
- Anders Arnor
52
DIALOGUE BETWEEN WCWB AND IFB
by Boris V. Zimin, President, WCWB
The theme of our Sixth General Assembly fits in the best way possible
the problem which is under discussion today. The cooperation of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and the International
Federation of the Blind is the primary and most important prerequisite
for promotion of welfare of the blind throughout the world. Five years
ago at the WCWB General Assembly in Sao Paulo many speakers
expressed their willingness to have the efforts of the World Council and
the International Federation of the Blind brought closer. Over the
quinquennium, in my capacity as WCWB President, in cooperation
with other Honorary Officers of our Council, I have tried to do my
best to implement those wishes. Later on, I shall touch upon our efforts
in this area.
Before getting down to express my ideas as to further ways of
developing the inter-relationship between WCWB and IFB, I wish to
draw your attention to the present situation in the international social
movement of the blind. I believe that an objective evaluation of the
situation can facilitate a search of possible ways of cooperation.
As you know, at present four international organizations are working
in the field of blindness. They are: the International Agency for the
Prevention of Blindness (lAPB), the International Council for the
Education of the Visually Handicapped (ICEVH), the International
Federation of the BHnd (IFB) and the World Council for the Welfare
of the Blind (WCWB). We can state that two of them— lAPB and
ICEVH — have their own specific goals, that is, prevention of blindness
and education of the visually handicapped respectively. Both organiza-
tions try to achieve their objectives on the basis of the professional
activities. The aim of the two other organizations — WCWB and IFB —
is the welfare of the blind throughout the world. However, the organiza-
tions take a different approach to the achievement of this aim, WCWB
is uniting the professional approach (organizations for the blind, experts
in the field) and practical experience (organizations of the blind, blind
leaders having experience in social work). The IFB approach to the
same task is based primarily on utilizing the wide social experience of
its members (organizations of the blind).
Cooperation between WCWB and lAPB, WCWB and ICEVH
appear to present few problems since each organization has its own
tasks that are clearly defined and expressed. From the moment of the
establishment of these organizations, we have worked in the spirit of
permanent contacts and lasting cooperation. Ways of improving this
cooperation can be discussed, but it is not directly concerned with the
subject of my paper. At the same time, the fact that two organizations
function in parallel trying to achieve the same goal results, to my mind,
in complications in international work and causes us to look for some
53
more adequate forms of cooperation. Meanwhile, we have to proceed
from recognizing our personal responsibility for the success of the
international social movement of the blind and for more successful
solutions of the problems of rehabilitation and integration of millions
of the blind in the world.
That is why it is quite appropriate to ask ourselves if it is practical to
have two international organizations working in parallel in the field of
blindness. Should we bring them closer and combine their efforts?
What are the ways of doing that without causing damage to the common
cause and to the organizations?
I think that the evaluation of the situation as well as searching for
answers to the questions should form the subject of today's discussion.
If we cast a glance at the history of blind welfare, we shall find that
at the very beginning it was organizations for the blind, founded
primarily by blind people themselves that were set up to promote the
welfare of the visually impaired.
We can refer to the Royal National Institute for the Blind in Great
Britain, founded over 110 years ago by a Council that consisted of four
blind individuals under the chairmanship of Dr. Thomas Armitage.
Over many years, the RNIB has set a fine example for other coun-
tries. In fact, the model of the organization was followed by some
countries. Nowadays, blind people continue to hold responsible posi-
tions on the Executive Council of the Royal National Institute.
The Nippon Lighthouse is one of the largest organizations for the
blind in A.sia. It was founded in 1952 by the blind leader of social
movement of the blind in Japan, Mr. Takeo Iwahashi. He made a most
valuable contribution to development of the national blind movement
in Japan and to the foundation of the Federation of the Blind.
The founder of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind was
Colonel Eddy Baker, well-known to all of us. Under his leadership the
Institute promoted education and vocational rehabilitation of the bhnd
in Canada. During the 13 years of his presidency in our World Council,
he spared no effort to encourage international activities of the blind.
High praise can be given to the Association Valentin Haiiy which has
been doing a very good job for rehabilitation of the blind in France.
This list can be continued since there are dozens of big organizations
for the blind which are playing an important role in education and
integration of the blind.
The work of such organizations is based on the joint efforts of
visually impaired founders or leaders and professional experience of
sighted experts. It should be emphasized that activities of organizations
for the blind encouraged the creation and development of the inter-
national movement of blind people themselves as well as training
visually handicapped leaders.
In the meantime, an historical approach demonstrates that later on
organizations of the blind tended to develop very rapidly. This ten-
dency was encouraged by organizations for the blind through the
development of economy, science, culture and the media.
At present national organizations of the blind in socialist and
Scandinavian countries as well as in some other countries (Federal
54
Republic of Germany, France, Italy, India, Japan etc.) exercise great
influence. It is these organizations which act as go-betweens with their
governments and utilize the professional experience and knowledge of
sighted experts.
As you will see, associations and unions of the blind in socialist,
Scandinavian and other countries also set a fine example of the social
movement of the blind.
It follows from the aforementioned that blind welfare can be succes-
ful in modern society, as a result of the close cooperation of blind
people with sighted professionals.
The experience shows that no grounds for antagonism exist or could
appear in relations between organizations of and for the blind.
However, we have to admit with regret that in some countries there
are organizations for the blind which ignore organizations of the blind
and vice versa — organizations of the blind ignoring organizations for
the bhnd. I am convinced that this situation is not normal, it damages
welfare and integration of the blind.
As you may notice, the aforementioned is reflected in the draft
resolution submitted by the Honorary Officers of WCWB and IFB to
the General Assembly.
Aims of organizations of the blind in modern society are defined in
the Draft Resolution in the following way :
"This General Assembly also recognizes that in some parts of the
world the creation of viable organizations of blind people is extremely
difficult, and in such cases the operation of services of benefit for blind
people by organizations for the blind should be maintained and en-
couraged. It is the firm belief of the General Assembly that in all parts
of the world every eff"ort must be made to establish responsible organiza-
tions of blind people, and that all organizations for the blind should be
called on to stimulate the development of such bodies and agree to full
participation of competent blind people at the policy making and
management levels of the organizations for the blind."
We, the Honorary Oflflcers earnestly believe that such a definition
gives a positive direction for further development of the international
social movement of the blind.
I would like to review very briefly the situation within WCWB. Some
people are firmly convinced that WCWB is "an organization for the
blind", while IFB is "an organization of the blind". As a result,
antagonistic ideas have developed in regard to both organizations. In
practice, every year more and more organizations of the blind join the
World Council. Moreover, all the executives in WCWB such as the
Honorary Officers (excluding Honorary Secretary General and Honorary
Treasurer), regional and almost all standing committee chairmen are
blind people and many of them are leaders of national organizations of
the blind in their own countries.
At present, organizations of and for the blind from 73 countries are
national members of WCWB. Over 60 per cent out of these have
representatives of organizations of the blind among their national
delegates. The overwhelming majority of member countries of the
World Council are represented only by organizations for the blind —
55
there are just no organizations of the bhnd at all. We, in the World
Council are going to urge all national delegations to include representa-
tives of organizations of the blind.
Thus, you can see that today the WCWB policy is positively in-
fluenced by national organizations of the blind and by blind leaders.
The strengthening of this tendency is quite obvious. In the present
situation the idea about WCWB as an organization only "for" the
blind is absolutely wrong.
In the other hand, the organizations for the blind which are members
of WCWB regard the aims and goals of the Council with deep under-
standing and contribute professional knowledge to the development of
the welfare of the blind. All this creates a favourable basis for the
comprehensive activities of the World Council for the benefit of the
blind throughout the world.
So far as the relationship between WCWB and IFB is concerned, I
am anxious to emphasize that over the last years, and especially after
the Fifth General Assembly in Sao Paulo, the World Council has been
constantly manifesting its earnest willingness to cooperate with IFB.
We initiated joint meetings of the Honorary Officers of both organiza-
tions which have become a part of our routine work now. The meetings
are convened to discuss general problems and to exchange views and
information. Both organizations jointly organized the International
Conference on the Situation of Blind Women that was a great success.
This year of 1979 has been announced as the International Year of
the Child. Both organizations signed an appeal to the Heads of Govern-
ments of all countries on the improvement of the social situation of the
blind. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the response to the
appeal was very inspiring. I hope that it will help the national organiza-
tions to more actively participate in programmes for the prevention of
blindness and integration of the Wind in their countries. Nowadays the
joint committee that was estabhshed for organizing the International
Conference of Blind Women has made great progress. The European
committees of the World Council and the International Federation of
the Blind have developed positive cooperation.
I earnestly regret that not everything that we have been doing has
contributed to the development of our cooperation. For instance, the
initiative of the WCWB Asian Regional Committee on cooperation at
the regional level was declined by the IFB Asian Regional Committee.
I am aware that the format of our joint efforts is probably far froni
being perfect and is not utilized to the full extent, but I do not see any
obstacles that can prevent us from developing and expanding our
cooperation.
Being conscious of a great responsibility for the further development
of cooperation between WCWB and IFB and taking into account the
fact that constructive suggestions which could facilitate the development
of a closer relationship between our organizations should be submitted
to the next General Assemblies of both organizations, the WCWB and
IFB Honorary Officers authorized a working group consisting of
Messrs. A. AJ-Ghanim, A. Arnor, E. Boulter, T. Parker and F. Sonntag
to prepare their proposals on the problem in question. I am anxious to
56
take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to these gentlemen
for the careful study of the problem and the most valuable proposal
that laid a basis for the Draft Resolution approved by the joint meeting
of WCWB and IFB Honorary Officers in Bad Berleburg (Federal
Republic of Germany) on February 28, 1979.
Recommendations elaborated by the working group were considered
and approved by the Honorary Officers as the basis for closer co-
operation between the two world organizations which would provide
an opportunity for creating a single harmonious world body in future.
The Honorary Officers also studied recommendations submitted by
organizations of the blind from Scandinavian countries.
The Honorary Officers fully appreciated these documents and decided
to utilize the most reasonable suggestions in a Draft Resolution on
further cooperation and development of closer relationship between
WCWB and IFB based on both documents. The Draft Resolution is
put forward for your consideration at today's session. I am anxious to
emphasize that the joint meeting of the WCWB and IFB Honorary
Officers was held in the spirit of mutual understanding and great
responsibiUty for the future unity of the international social movement
of the blind and interests of the visually impaired throughout the world.
The document under discussion was unanimously approved by Hono-
rary Officers of WCWB and IFB. I am eager to avail myself of the
opportunity to express my great appreciation to our German friends —
President Franz Sonntag and his colleagues — for everything they did to
make our meeting in Bad Berleburg successful.
One of the policies of the World Council has always been a willing-
ness to encourage and support representatives of both organizations of
and for the blind, involving them in the development and running of all
services for the blind on national, regional and international levels.
This policy is followed in the majority of WCWB member countries,
and it can be still in accordance with cultural, social and political
conditions typical of each country.
It follows from the WCWB's experience and practice of many years
that only the joint efforts of two historically established forms of blind
welfare, i.e. organizations of and for the blind can achieve progress in
the comprehensive integration of blind individuals. Still I earnestly
believe that some privileges should be provided by the constitution for
national organizations of the blind as it is stated in the Draft Resolution.
The area of blind welfare is not vast. A small number of leaders is
quite sufficient. Financial resources are limited. It is common know-
ledge that these are the factors that affect our national and international
work.
I feel that I am expressing the views of all the participants if I say
that we should strive to strengthen our efforts by joint action and not
undermine them by antagonistic actions. This is the only way to
implement our objective of improving the welfare of blind people all
over the world.
57
REPORT ON CO-OPERATION BETWEEN WCWB AND IFB
by Dr. Fatima Shah
First and foremost I would like to express my sincere thanks and
appreciation to the President and Programme Committee of WCWB
for inviting me to the Sixth General Assembly of this world organiza-
tion and giving me the opportunity of speaking on a subject which is of
significance and importance to both IFB and WCWB, i.e. cooperation
between the two organizations which today is accepted by everyone
to be vitally important in the larger and better interest of the blind
people of the world.
I shall be discussing this subject both from the point of view of the
International Federation of the Blind, as I have had the honour of
being its President during the last five years, and in my personal
capacity as a pioneer worker in the self-help movement of blind people
both nationally and internationally. I consider it necessary to begin by
commenting on some of the points made by my distinguished colleague,
Mrs. Boris Zimin, President of the World Council for the Welfare of
the Blind in his paper on cooperation which has been prepared with
great care and ability.
While elaborating on the international social movement of blind
people he has mentioned that out of the four organizations working in
the field, IFB and WCWB have a common goal, viz. bhnd welfare.
While I totally agree with him in the broader sense of the term "blind
welfare", I would like to clarify the reason why two world organizations
with the same goal are in existence. This brings me to the events leading
to the formation of IFB. It was the need of the blind people of the
developing countries to participate in their own welfare work inter-
nationally— participation which was denied to them in the developing
world by the strong and dominant organization for the welfare of the
blind. The formation of IFB was an important milestone in the social
revolution of blind people of the world, indicating the beginning of an
important era of awakening and development through self-help move-
ments for the achievement of their basic right of self-determination
which could not be denied to them any longer. The WCWB no doubt
has been performing a very important task in the field of blind welfare
with substantial and far-reaching effects. We are all aware of the fact
that WCWB represents both organizations of and for the blind.
Nevertheless, it is equally true that the voice of organized blind people
from a large number of the countries of the world was excluded from
this forum and still is. The fact has to be faced that the participation of
blind people with special reference to the developing world was neg-
lected and needed special impetus and encouragement from this world
forum. Its constitution did not ensure the fulfilment of this vital need.
They had no mandatory powers to enforce the inclusion of the repre-
sentatives of blind people from the developing areas of the world in
58
their respective national delegations. The overlooking of such a vital
principle led to the natural consequence of the formation of a parallel
international forum — IFB — to fulfil the imperative need of those who
founded it.
The procedure adopted by IFB to involve blind people themselves in
their progress and development at every level is extremely important.
It is true that blind welfare work began with voluntary effort by
religious and charitable organizations for the blind which resulted in an
increased number of educated blind persons who in turn joined together
to form their own organization. Nevertheless the pivotal role in the
struggle for the achievement of basic human rights and first class
citizenship has been, and is being, played by the organizations of blind
people themselves. It is accepted by all of us today that both types of
organizations of and for the blind have their distinctive role to play
towards the welfare and advancement of the blind community. It is for
the blind people to voice their needs and requirements, determine the
priority of services to be established for them; this in turn is the function
of the organizations for the welfare of the blind.
Turning to the subject of cooperation it is imperative to recognize
the principle that cooperation between any two parties can only run
smoothly and effectively if it is based on terms of equality and from a
position of strength on both sides. To illustrate this point I shall give a
concrete example. In the beginning IFB was small and weak and
struggling to stand on its own feet independently. From this point of
weakness it turned to the strong and well established WCWB for help
and cooperation. In 1969, when the first convention of IFB was due,
the late Dr. Tenbroek, Founder President of IFB, made an offer to the
then President of WCWB for a joint assembly of both the organizations.
The offer was turned down. However, this refusal for a joint assembly
was a blessing in disguise for IFB at that time as it created a challenge
for independent action for IFB which it accepted. The first convention
of IFB was organized in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in October 1969 which
was a great success. IFB has never looked back after that and has
gained in strength and stature ever since.
Gradually as time passed the conditions became more favourable
and conducive to cooperation between the two organizations.
This time the initiative was taken by the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind. In March 1975 a letter was received from the
President of WCWB in which he had extended an offer of cooperation
to the IFB in blind welfare work. This oflfer was accepted by the
President of IFB in the honest and sincere belief that such cooperation
between the two world organizations working in the field would be in
the best interests of blind people, especially those from the developing
regions. This move was fully approved by the majority of the members
of the Executive Board as well as a number of IFB affiliates.
The procedures adopted at the joint meeting of the Honorary
Oflftcers of IFB and WCWB in Paris, in May 1975, to guide this
cooperation were:
(a) All joint committees to have equal representation and co-chairmen,
59
(b) All deputations to the world bodies to be made jointly by the two
Presidents and if necessary equal representation from each
organization.
The first cooperative venture was the Belgrade Conference on the
Situation of Blind Women in which both the organizations supple-
mented each other's efforts in making the conference a success. While
WCWB did most of the spade work for this conference, as IFB joined
in later, it was through the efforts of IFB that participation of blind
women from Asia and Africa was made possible.
The next important programme in which the two organizations co-
operated was the Leadership Training Seminar held in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia in November 1975. This was followed in April 1979 by a
similar Seminar in Lusaka, Zambia. These cooperative efforts had
far-reaching benefits not only to the blind people but to the organiza-
tions of the blind as well.
This training was very valuable and fulfilled the vital need at that
time for our blind leaders who attended these Seminars. The value and
importance of this training programme is immense when considered in
the light of the fact that blind people are organizing themselves in Asia
and Africa and as such are in urgent need of guidance and training in
the field.
It was at the Kuala Lumpur Seminar that the foundation was laid
for the East Asia Regional Committee of IFB and similar steps were
taken at the Lusaka Seminar for the formation of the Africa Regional
Committee of IFB. Furthermore, potential blind leaders from countries
like Lesotho, Botswana and Swaziland, where organizations of blind
people do not exist as yet, have been motivated, after being equipped
with the necessary training at the Lusaka Seminar to establish such
organizations in their respective countries on their return.
However, the cooperation on national and regional level in the
developing world is not what the leaders of both the organizations
would desire it to be. The most important cause for this in the deve-
loping countries is the fact that organizations of the blind are still in
the initial stages of development and as such are mostly ignored by the
well established organizations for the blind who are not yet prepared
to give up their domination in the field.
On the other hand organizations of the bhnd are not prepared to co-
operate on any other terms but those of equahty. In my opinion it is at
this level that maximum effort by the leaders of WCWB and IFB is
required to create conditions conducive to a relationship of harmony
and cooperation between their respective national affiliates. This is
where the efforts of IFB are required to strengthen the organizations of
the blind so that they are able to cooperate from a position of equality.
The WCWB should also motivate its affiliates to include representatives
of the organized blind on their Executive Committees in order to create
an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence. This in turn will lead to
the desired cooperation at the regional level. Thus the process of co-
operation has to be made effective at the grass-root level in order to
achieve our goal. Details of further development in cooperation between
60
the two organizations are given in the Bad Berleburg resolution dated
February 28, 1979 which has already been distributed to all the affiliates
of both organizations. Therefore, I shall not pursue the matter here.
The third convention of IFB has now concluded. The Bad Berleburg
resolution has not been adopted by the General Assembly. Instead,
another resolution has been adopted on future cooperation between
WCWB and IFB.
Preamble
The members of the Resolutions Committee have studied in detail
the Bad Berleburg Declaration circulated by the Honorary Officers to
the IFB and the WCWB, and we have sought the comments of every
region of the world, represented at the Third General Assembly of
the IFB.
Based on the firm conviction that the organized blind all over the
world must never give away the right to determine their own destiny in
cooperation with the community, governments, and agencies, and that
the autonomy identity and objectives of the IFB must be preserved, the
Resolutions Committee recommends the following action to the dele-
gates of the Third General Assembly :
1. The Honorary Officers of IFB should continue their efforts to
bring about greater cooperation and collaboration between IFB
and WCWB in all areas and at all levels of common concern.
2. The 1979 General Assemblies of the two organizations shall
establish a Joint Working Group with three representatives of each
organization under the chairmanship of a person to be agreed
upon by both sides. This Working Group shall study the feasibility
of a joint secretariat and other organizational measures for in-
creased efficiency at reduced cost.
In the light of this resolution three representatives of IFB on the
joint w^orking group have already been appointed. The future course of
action will depend on the decisions taken at the Vlth General Assembly
of WCWB after which the joint working group can start functioning
under the terms of reference laid down by the two general assemblies.
The general assembly is the supreme authority and we shall abide by its
decisions and work towards their implementation. As far as IFB is
concerned cooperation in all fields and at all levels with WCWB is fully
endorsed by the Third Assembly, as it is already included in the pre-
amble of its constitution. I sincerely hope that we shall be able to adopt
effective measures to promote cooperation first and foremost at the
national level which is vitally important as a foundation for wider
cooperation at other levels. Both IFB and WCWB will have to take
concrete steps to build confidence and trust between their respective
national affiliates in every country of the world and this refers to all the
continents of the world except Europe where there are in existence
several countries requiring these measures. I have mentioned this
previously in my report and after being informed of the situation in all
the countries which were represented at the convention I am fully
61
convinced that a programme of cooperation at the national level is the
first fundamental step which has to be taken by us if overall success in
that field is to be achieved. I hope that the decision taken at this
Assembly of WCWB will enable us to apply ourselves to this task
immediately.
Before concluding this report I wish all success to the Sixth Assembly
of WCWB which has chosen "Cooperation" as its theme. I am con-
fident that some useful and practical methods and procedures for co-
operation will emerge as a result of their deliberations. I wish all success
and God speed to your work.
62
BUSINESS SESSION 1
Thusday afternoon, August 2, 1979
PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF
THE COUNCIL AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The five years which have passed since the Fifth General Assembly
in Sao Paulo, August 1974, have been marked by great activity in the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, its Regional Standing
Committees and all national member organizations of and for the blind.
It is well known now that the blind are involved in production
processes making their contribution to the material, social and in-
tellectual progress of modern society.
Quite recently it was believed that the total number of blind people
in the world was 16 million. However, it was emphasized that the
estimate was far from being accurate. At present, we realize that there
are 40 million visually handicapped people throughout the world and
80 per cent of them live in developing countries. Moreover, the number
of blind will increase unless urgent measures are taken to prevent
blindness.
National organizations of and for the blind have very noble objectives,
i.e. to involve the visually impaired in the economic and social life of
their countries; to draw the attention of governmental and non-
governmental agencies to problems of prevention of blindness ; training
and employment of the blind ; through the media to give publicity to
possibilities of the visually handicapped; to participate in various
programmes of international cooperation for better integration of the
blind into the community.
Irrespective of the fact that our General Assembly is not being held
in Africa, we recognize that problems of prevention of blindness, social
and vocational rehabilitation and integration of the blind in the com-
munity are extremely vital for Africa as well as for Asia.
I feel that I can express the earnest hope of all Assembly participants
if I say that we are looking forward to the fact that recommendations
to be adopted by the General Assembly will draw the attention of
governmental and non-governmental agencies in African coun;ries to
problems of the blind and facilitate integration of the visually impaired
into the community as well as encourage the creation and development
of active and powerful organizations of and for the blind in the
continent.
This is the reason why the theme of our Assembly — "COOPERA-
TION"— is seen to reflect most adequately our current aims and ways
of their implementation.
63
The Sixth General Assembly will discuss different aspects of co-
operation of WCWB and its national members and approve resolutions
which will lay the basis for further development of the policy of our
organization.
The current state of science, technology and culture presents plenty
of opportunities for development of the blind individual's personality.
I honestly believe that modern society has all the necessary resources
for the evaluation of possibilities of the blind and for extending them a
helping hand for social integration. More responsibility is placed,
therefore, on all organizations of and for the blind for beneficial co-
operation with governmental and non-governmental organizations on
national, regional and international levels.
The report on WCWB activities is primarily a review of the work
done by its Regional and Standing Committees. The agenda of our
Assembly provides that all the participants will be able not only to
listen to these reports but also to join in discussions.
Due to this fact and also in view of shortness of time, I shall concen-
trate upon general policy of the World Council and sum up activities
carried out during the time that has passed since the last General
Assembly.
It would hardly be an overstatement if I say that the World Council
has made further progress over these five years. An increase in the
WCWB membership demonstrates a greater popularity of the World
Council. Since the last General Assembly many more members have
joined the World Council as compared to other quinquennia. Greater
responsibility and authority placed on Regional Committees as well as
changes in Standing Comm'ttee structure have had considerable impact
on strengthening of WCWB activities that in their turn have resulted in
establishing closer contacts with UN specialized agencies (UNESCO,
ILO, WHO, UNICEF, ECOSOC) and better utilization of programmes
developed by these agencies for the benefit of blind people and preven-
tion of blindness.
Now we can say with certainty that the foundation of the International
Agency for the Prevention of Blindness on the initiative of WCWB and
WHO was a most reasonable decision and resulted in consolidating our
relationship with WHO and encouraging programmes on prevention of
blindness throughout the world.
It is very promising that at present prevention of blindness is in-
cluded in one of the four international programmes launched by the
World Health Organization. The World Council and the lAPB have
made their contribution to development and promotion of this pro-
gramme. I would like to emphasize here that prevention of bhndness is
still one of the most urgent problems of mankind. Today, we have to
admit with bitterness that blindness has still not been eradicated ; new
cases of blindness spring up in different parts of the world all the time.
Much effort on the part of international and national organizations, as
well as governments, is needed in order to undermine social and
economic roots of blindness. I would like to stress again that treatment
of eye diseases and prevention of blindness are most urgent problems
64
in Africa and Asia. Priority, therefore, must be given to prevention of
blindness in the countries in these continents.
Our relationship with the International Labour Organization has
continued along a favourable course. The BLINDOC Information
Service has been very helpful in collecting and disseminating informa-
tion on rehabilitation, vocational training and employment of the
visually handicapped. BLINDOC has issued over 250 information
newsletters during this period. A WCWB representative attended meet-
ings of the UN Interagency Committee. A growing interest of the UN
specialized agencies in problems of the handicapped is manifested by
the fact that the 28th WHO World Assembly passed a resolution on
prevention of blindness and the ILO General Conference adopted a
resolution on vocational rehabilitation and social integration of the
disabled.
Our traditional contacts with UNESCO have continued. The World
Council is taking part in a revision of "World Braille Usage" as well as
in the UNESCO Cooperative Action Programme. For its part,
UNESCO has consulted the World Council on any problem which is
more or less concerned with the bhnd.
We are very much satisfied with the Resolution on Duty-Free
Importation of Technical Aids for the Blind and other Handicapped
passed by the UNESCO General Assembly in Nairobi in 1976. An
adoption of the resolution has become possible due to the fact that
WCWB national members made contact with their own UNESCO
delegations and urged them to support the resolution.
Great progress was made by a WCWB representative on the UNESCO
Intergovernmental Committee on Copyright. In 1977 upon a decision
of the Committee, the World Council was afforded consultative status
on the Committee, as a non-governmental organization. It is believed
that affiliation to the Committee will contribute to further improvement
of braille publications and dissemination of books for the blind in all
countries of the world. Mrs. Dorina Nowill, Chairman of our Com-
mittee on Cultural Affairs, will review these developments in more
detail in her report.
Regular contacts have been established between WCWB and
UNICEF. The contacts strengthened as a result of the International
Year of the Child in 1979. As you know, a Working Group on the
Handicapped Child was set up on the NGO Committee of UNICEF.
Our International member, Hellen Keller International, has represented
the Council in this organization.
In order to realize the aims of the International Year of the Child,
the efforts of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, the
International Agency on the Prevention of Blindness, the International
Council for Education of the Visually Handicapped and the Inter-
national Federation of the Blind were consolidated both on regional
and national levels. It was done for the first time and helped to draw
the attention of governmental and public organizations to problems of
medical and social assistance to handicapped children as well as the
creation of more favourable conditions for their education and re-
65
habilitation, building of special schools and rehabilitation centres,
development of curricula and training programmes.
Today, we can say with certainty that such joint actions are a good
pattern to follow in the development of international cooperation
between our organizations. It is evident that the position of the World
Council has strengthened also in other international governmental and
non-governmental organizations — CWOIH for example. These organiza-
tions have extended invitations to the World Council to send repre-
sentatives to their conferences and meetings. Being aware of the great
importance of addressing large international gatherings in order to call
public attention and give publicity to needs of the blind, we made
every effort to find resources for sending our delegates to these con-
ferences. It will take too much time if I mention all these meetings.
Suffice it to say that, in all, our representatives have attended over fifty
international meetings.
Thus, during the five years the World Council has strengthened and
expanded its contacts with the UN specialized agencies and other
international governmental and non-governmental organizations. These
interrelationships have come into our routine work and can be regarded
as a recognition of the World Council as an efficient international body
representing blind individuals' interests.
I honestly believe that in future the World Council should develop
and expand contacts and beneficial cooperation with governmental and
non-governmental organizations in order to take greater care of blind
people all over the world.
In the work of the World Council priority is given to Regional and
Standing Committees. You will get to know what has been done by the
Committees from their reports. I myself have always attached great
importance to the Regional Committees as the main link of WCWB.
As a body representing the Council in the region, they maintain
contacts with national organizations of the blind and direct efforts for
further development of the social movement of the blind. Over the past
years the Regional Committees have worked according to long-term
plans and succeeded in organizing various important conferences and
meetings, increased their membership, altered their Constitutions to fit
the WCWB Constitution so that today we have every reason to state
that the role of the Regional Committees in the work of the World
Council has strengthened to a great extent.
Another essential policy of the World Counc'l is concerned with
stimulation of Standing Committees' activities. The present structure of
our Standing Committees corresponds most adequately to the general
policies of the World Council and they were approved by the Sao
Paulo General Assembly and included in its Resolutions. The Com-
mittees have maintained regular contacts with appropriate UN
specialized agencies. The Standing Committees set up about 15 sub-
committees, working and expert groups for promotion of various
projects. As a result a greater number of national members have been
involved in the work of the World Council. In this way we tried to
implement the wishes expressed by many national organizations, i.e. to
take a more significant part in WCWB activities.
66
The World Council and its Regional and Standing Committees have
held many important international conferences on most essential
problems of the blind. I would like to mention the most important of
these.
The International Congress of the i50th Anniversary of the
Braille System, Paris, France, May 1975. Representatives from 22
countries attended the Congress.
The Conference on the Situation of Blind Women, Belgrade,
Yugoslavia, November 1975. The Conference was held in co-
operation with the IFB and attended by delegates from 37 countries.
The Symposium on Early Education of Blind Children, Berlin,
GDR, May 1976, with representatives from 52 countries.
The Helen Keller Conference on Services to Deaf-Blind Youths
and Adults, New York, USA, September 1977, with delegates
from 30 countries of the world.
The Congress of the Latin American Organization for the Blind
and Visually Impaired, Sao Paulo, Brazil, October 1978.
Some theoretical conferences : on Scientific notation for the Blind,
Moscow, USSR, March 1977; on Sports for the Blind, Belgrade,
Yugoslavia, April 1979; on Computerized Braille, London, Great
Britain, May 1979.
Each of these conferences and many others reviewed international
experience gained in different areas of work for the blind and outlined
practical ways of further development of rehabilitation and integration
of the visually handicapped.
I would like to mention here the participation of the World Council
in some important international campaigns launched by the United
Nations and the World Health Organization. They are: the World
Health Day (April 7, 1976) devoted to the prevention of blindness; the
International Year of the Child 1979; the International Women's Year,
1977. All national organizations of and for the blind contributed
towards the Louis Braille Year 1975, declared by the Fifth General
Assembly of WCWB. In the course of all the campaigns, national
organizations of and for the blind gave publicity to the aims and policy
of the World Council and also joined in different national programmes
for improvement of the well-being of the blind population in their
countries.
In the near future we are expecting to take an active part in the
International Year of the Handicapped in 1981 and the Helen Keller
Year 1980.
Our experience of the International Women's Year and the Inter-
national Year of the Child demonstrates that it is most reasonable to
cooperate closely with the International Agency on the Prevention of
Blindness, the International Council on Education of the Visually
Handicapped and the International Federation of the Blind. Our
contacts with these organizations have developed greatly. As a result a
joint message to Heads of Governments in all states of the world was
sent out, in which it was emphasized that in many countries blind people
lived in extreme poverty and eye diseases and blindness were increasing
67
very rapidly and it was urged to develop special programmes of medical
assistance and social and vocational rehabilitation. We have already
received replies from many countries and it is believed that national
organizations of and for the blind should make the most of these
resources.
In view of a great variety of aims and ways of work for the blind,
special emphasis is placed on national organizations of the blind.
It is hardly necessary to argue that progress in blind welfare depends
primarily on efficiency of organizations of and for the blind, i.e. how
efficiently they manage to involve governments in solving problems of
the blind and how effectively they are able to make use of resources
available in their countries. One of the most urgent problems of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind is still the creation of
powerful, authoritative, cooperatively-minded organizations of the
blind in the countries where there are no such organizations.
In my report I do not feel it necessary to go into details as to our
relationship with the International Federation of the Blind since the
agenda of our General Assembly has provided a special session on the
problem. I am anxious to emphasize only one thing here, namely, that
following the spirit of the Sao Paulo General Assembly and being
aware of the responsibility to the international social movement of the
bhnd, our World Council has continuously taken a lead to draw closer
to and to develop contacts with the International Federation of the
Blind. It has become a positive practice to convene joint meetings of the
Honorary Officers of both organizations in order to discuss issues of
mutual interest and to exchange information. An initiative was taken
to develop contacts on the regional level as well. The present forms of
our joint work do not seem perfect yet, but I do not see anything that
can prevent us from developing and improving the cooperation. No
doubt the resolutions of the Sixth General Assembly in Antwerp will
serve to improve further cooperation between our organizations.
As you will know, the work of any organization is limited by its
resources. Thanks to some voluntary donations as well as the generosity
of some national organizations which kindly covered expenses on
holding some international meetings, the budget of the World Council
has been steady, which gave us an opportunity to increase to some
extent subventions to the Regional and Standing Committees and also
to finance our necessary administrative expenses. You will find a
detailed review of the expenditures as well as a description of the
financial situation of the World Council in our Honorary Treasurer's
report.
In the next quinquennium it will be necessary to somewhat increase
our administrative expenses for the Headquarters and the Secretary
General. In view of this fact and also taking into consideration that 40
per cent of our income has been made up of voluntary contributions
granted on one occasion only, we may expect a critical financial
situation in the World Council. Growing inflation should not be
neglected either.
We need, therefore, to find a solution that will enable us, on the one
hand, to enhance the financial situation of the Council and, on the other
68
hand, to create more favourable conditions for involving new members
to the WCWB from developing countries. As you will see, the WCWB
budget is one of the most urgent and complicated problems which we
face at present. The way we shall find to solve the problem will pre-
determine the future of the World Council as an international organiza-
tion. I urge you to give due regard to this problem.
It gives me great pleasure to let you know that the activities of the
World Council are highly appreciated and recognized by the inter-
national pubhc. On the occasion of the 25th Jubilee of the World Council
the Institut International de Promotion et de Prestige* awarded the
WCWB with the International Humanitarian Medal.
In conclusion, I would like to mention that in contrast to previous
years, WCWB Honorary Officers' meetings have been held not less than
once or twice a year during this period. The meetings considered most
important and urgent problems of WCWB which resulted in greater
responsibility and activity of the WCWB Honorary Officers and have
had a positive impact on the work of the World Council and its
constituting bodies.
I am anxious to express my sincere thanks to the Honorary Officers,
Chairmen of the Regional and Standing Committees, and to all the
individuals who took up our tasks with understanding and contributed
to their implementation.
I am confident that the cooperative spirit which has been formed in
our organization by the Sixth General Assembly is a vivid demon-
stration of the fact that joint efforts can encourage the international
social movement of the blind and further develop the work of the
World Council.
* International Institute of Promotion and Prestige.
69
SECRETARY GENERAL'S REPORT ON MEMBERSHIP
At the conclusion of the Fifth World Assembly in Sao Paulo, the
World Council had 59 National Members. Since then, two countries,
Greece and Sudan, have been expelled from membership because of
non-payment of membership fees. One country, Tunisia, has withdrawn
its membership. Fifteen countries have joined the World Council as
National Members, out of which four are re-affiliated. These are
Ethiopia, Kenya, Korea and Mexico. The eleven new National Members
are Algeria. Argentina, Cameroon, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador,
Fiji, Iceland, Niger, Oman and Uruguay. During the past quin-
quennium, Ghana regained full National Membership but was obliged
to revert again to the status of Associate Member owing to lack of
funds. Two countries, Colombia and South Africa, have increased
their delegations from two to four representatives because of the rise of
population. This makes a total of 73 member countries, with altogether
206 National delegates.
Twenty-eight institutions or individuals have joined the World
Council as Associate Members during the period under review, making
a total to date of 67 Associate Members in 33 countries.
The number of International Members is unchanged. The four we
have are the Helen Keller International, the Royal Commonwealth
Society for the Blind, the Christoffel-Blindenmission, and the Inter-
national Services for the Blind from the United States of America.
The Constitution of the World Council was amended at the Sao
Paulo General Assembly, providing for a new kind of membership,
that of Sponsoring Members. Four companies have been admitted as
Sponsoring Members, They are Clarke and Smith International, U.K.,
the Swiss watch manufacturers A. Raymond S.A., Canon Company,
Japan, and Miyake Traffic Safety Research Centre in Japan. The latter
company has recently reverted to Associate Membership.
Finally, as we learnt during the opening ceremony, four of our
Honorary Life Members, Dr. Charles Hedkvist, Mr. John Jarvis, Don
Ignacio Satrustegui and Mrs. Queenie Captain, have passed away since
we last met in Sao Paulo, leaving us with five Honorary Life Members.
They are Monsieur Henri Amblard, France; Mr. Eric T. Boulter, U.K.;
Mr. Hans C. Seierup, Denmark; and Mr. John C. Colligan, U.K.
70
REPORT OF THE HONORARY TREASURER OF WCWB
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 1978, AND
FOR THE QUINQUENNIUM 1974-1979
In accordance with previous practice, the attached accounts are for
the fourth year of the quinquennium (ending 31st December 1978),
and the Quinquennial Report includes the last year of the previous
quinquennium (1974). This is occasioned by the fact that the General
Assembly invariably takes place before the conclusion of the financial
year.
It will be noted that certain important changes have taken place in
our accounts since the Sao Paulo General Assembly: firstly, that the
New York Account was closed down and its balances transferred to
London and Paris respectively on 31st December 1974; secondly, that
a Dollar Deposit Account was opened in London; and thirdly, that the
small Imprest Account in Paris was merged in 1977 with the normal
Franc Account. These steps have led to a simplification of our account-
ing procedures and also allowed us to take maximum advantage of the
favourable interest rates obtaining both for pounds and dollars on the
London money market.
It will be recollected that in my final Report to the Sao Paulo
General Assembly, I indicated that without a powerful injection of
additional financial support it was unlikely that we could continue to
be solvent for more than a few months of 1975. Thanks to the pledges
made by several member countries at, or immediately following, the
last General Assembly, we were assured of an additional annual income
of some $25,000 which, together with the recruitment of Sponsoring
Members and additional Representative and Associate Members, has
enabled us despite continued world inflation to meet our increasing
commitments and to enable us to start the next quinquennium with
some reasonable confidence.
I should like at this stage in my report to pay a tribute, which I am
sure will be endorsed by the Executive Committee and the General
Assembly, to the fifteen member countries and organizations which
fulfilled their promises of special donations as well as to many indivi-
duals in our organization who secured for us new Sponsoring, Repre-
sentative or Associate Members.
Comparing the figures available to us at the last General Assembly
with the attached summary of accounts, it will be seen that, whereas at
31st December 1973 our total balances were S2 1,059, these had in-
creased by 31st December 1978 to ^S75,333, which is only slighdy less
than had been estimated in my report to the Honorary Oflftcers and
Finance Conunittee in April 1978. On the face of it, this may seem a
very satisfactory situation but if one remembers the heavy expenditure
which is likely to fall on us as a consequence of the General Assembly,
particularly as a result of the last minute necessity of changing the
71
venue, we shall be left with a pitifully small reserve with which to
commence the 1980-84 quinquennium, especially if it is appreciated
that the annual rate of inflation is hkely to continue or increase for
some years ahead.
It will be necessary before the conclusion of the General Assembly to
consider the way in which our organization should be financed following
the expiry of the current financial year. In my report to the Honorary
Ofiicers and Finance Committee for the year ended 31st December
1977, I suggested four points for consideration. These were:
(1) A certain increase in subscription rates (which have remained
constant for seven years) is inevitable, if only partly to meet
world inflation.
(2) A method must be worked out by which we can abandon the
present "begging bowl" to the wealthier organizations and yet
at the same time enable developing countries either to become
or to remain members of our World Council.
(3) A realistic contribution will have to be made towards the expense
of the Secretary General's Office. (The present $5,000 annually
is, by present day standards, totally unrealistic).
(4) It must be agreed as to what is the precise role of the organization
in the development of work for the blind internationally. Should
it be by grant-aiding selected projects or by developing its
administrative structure to maximum effectiveness? Or should
it be a combination of both ?
At the meetings of the Honorary Ofiicers held in Osaka and Bad
Berleberg these points were accepted by all concerned and preliminary
approval was given to outline proposals which will be considered in
detail by the pre- Assembly meetings of the Finance Committee and the
Executive. A report will be presented at the first Business Session.
Returning to the 1979 Cash Statement, I am glad to say that as far
as our available balances are concerned they are currently invested on
the London money market at satisfactory rates of interest varying
between 10 and 12 per cent. The same applies to our Helen Keller
Deaf-BHnd Fund which, desnite a number of calls upon it over the past
five years, still stands at rather more than the original bequest.
The balance of the Aid to Developing Countries Fund will be vir-
tually extinguished as a result of travel grants made in connection with
this Assembly.
We are under a constitutional obligation to have our accounts
audited during the quinquennium and the attached accounts are duly
certified. I should like to record our thanks to Madame Szwerbrot-
Estienne, Certified Public Accountant Auditor, for having audited our
Paris Accounts and to Mr. M. S. Blundell, FCA, for having audited
our London Accounts and for having undertaken the certification of the
Consolidated Accounts for the period ending 31st December 1978. We
are most grateful to them both.
I should also like to record my own thanks to the Royal National
Institute for the Blind for continuing to grant me ofiice facilities and
72
secretarial help. I would particularly mention their Chief Accountant,
Mr. R. C. Doe, for his help in keeping our books and preparing our
yearly accounts during the past ten years, and to Miss Carol Lay for
her valuable assistance in secretarial work.
London, June 22, 1979 J. C. COLLIGAN
Honorary Treasurer
73
WORLD COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE BLIND
SUMMARY CASH STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 1978
GENERAL ACCOUNT
PARIS
US $
LONDON
US $
TOTAL
US $
2,233
60,799
63,032
31,430
4,127
9,176
16,288
210
3,684
40,606
20,415
210
3,684
44
5,326
6
5,326
50
37,834
95,489
133,323
39,796
5,064
44,860
4,240
1,354
1,626
4,240
1,354
1,626
7,340
40
7,340
40
39,796
19,664
59,460
( - 1,962)
f 3,920
110
75,825
3,920
73,863
110
,116
r 1,244
-1,360
2,184
73,149
75,333
Balances in hand, 1st January 1978
(Schedule 1)
Add: Receipts:
Membership Fees
Special Contributions
Donations
Interest
Contributions to Asian Con-
ference
Miscellaneous
Less: Payments:
Administration Expenses ...
Travel :
Hon. Officers
Deaf-Blind Committee • • •
Sports Committee
Asian Conference and Com-
mittee
Miscellaneous
Transfers
Differences on Exchange
Adjustment of balances at
1st January 1978 to Exchange
Rates at 31st December 1978
Balances in hand, 31st December 1978
(Schedule 2)
(Signed) J. C. COLLIGAN, Hon. Treasurer
Auditor's Report to the Members of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind
1. I have audited the records of the Council maintained in London and am satisfied
that the column headed London on the Summary Cash Statement above correctly
records the transactions by the Hon. Treasurer's Office in London during the year
ended 31st December 1978, and Schedule 2 the balances with London Banks at
the 31st December 1978.
2. I have had presented to me Accounts for the Paris Office certified correct by
Madame Szwerbrot-Estienne, a Certified Public Accountant, and I am satisfied
that the Summary Cash Statement taken as a vv'hole correctly represents the
combined transactions of the two offices for the year ended 31st December 1978.
(Signed) M. S. BLUNDELL,
Chartered Accountant,
Hon. Auditor
74
WORLD COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE BLIND
SCHEDULES TO THE SUMMARY CASH STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 1978
SCHEDULE 1— Balances at 1st January 1978
Paris: Dollar a/c
French Franc a/c
fr. 5,318.63
London: Current a/c ( - £36.88) . . •
Deposit a/c— £19.70
Special Deposit a/c £15,000
Dollar Deposit a/c
Exchange rates at 1st January 1978: £1 sterling = US $ 1.917
US $1.00 == French francs 4.687
PARIS
US$
LONDON
US?
TOTAL
US $
1,098
1,135
(-71)
38
28,755
32,077
1,098
1,135
(-71)
38
28,755
32,077
2,233
60,799
63,032
SCHEDULE 2— Balances at 31st December 1978
Paris:
London:
Dollar a/c
1,860
1,860
French Franc a/c
fr. 1,375.51
324
324
Current a/c (-£842.92) ...
(-1,686)
(-1,686)
Deposit a/c £20.82
42
42
Special Deposit a/c £15,000
30,000
30,000
Dollar Deposit a/c
44,793
44,793
2,184
73,149
75,333
Exchange rates at 31st December 1978: £1 sterling = US 12.00
US $1.00 = French francs 4.25
WORLD COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE BLIND
HELEN KELLER DEAF-BLIND FUND
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 1978
US $
Balance in hand at 1st January 1978 24,988
Add: Interest received during the year 1 ,461
Balance in hand at 31st December 1978
26,449
AID TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FUND
Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st December 1978
US $
Balance in hand at 1st January 1978 3,076
Add: Subscription received during the year 102
Interest received during the year ... 161
Less: Secretarial expenses
Balance in hand at 31st December 1978
3,339
440
2,899
NOTE: Balances are held in Pounds Sterling and have been converted to US
Dollars at the rate of 2 US $ equals £1 Sterling.
75
REPORT OF THE
CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
by W. Stein
International President of ICEVH
The "Consultative Committee on Education" of WCWB has grown
into a worldwide link of educators of the blind, and since 1972 it is
known as "International Council for Education of the Visually Handi-
capped". Recently there has been considerable discussion as to how
this organization relates to WCWB; in order to clarify this point it
seems necessary to give a brief account of its history :
From 1873 onwards, a number of national and international gather-
ings of workers and educators concerned with the blind had been held
in various European countries and in the USA, but no permanent
international organization had resulted to serve either adults or children.
To change this situation, an International Conference of Workers for
the BHnd was held at Merton College, Oxford, in August 1949, which
resulted in the formation of the World Council of Workers for the
Blind (1951) and the International Conference of Educators of Blind
Youth during a conference in Holland (1952).
The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind was created in 1951
and accepted the International Conference of Educators of Blind Youth
as its Education Committee, thus assuring a smooth joint working
arrangement between WCWB and ICEBY. The difference to the other
WCWB Committees was that ICEBY had its own constitution and
appointed its own officers. The constitution stipulated quinquennial
meetings of ICEBY, and during the following years, they took place in
Oslo/Norway (1957), in Hanover/West Germany (1962), in Watertown,
Mass./USA (1967) where the word "Conference" was changed to
"Council" to avoid confusion in reference to the organization and its
regular meetings, in Madrid/Spain (1972), after which the name was
changed to "International Council for Education of the Visually
Handicapped" (ICEVH), and in Paris/France (1977).
In order to erase any doubts over the relationship between ICEVH
and WCWB, I would like to confirm that I and the members of the
Executive Committee of ICEVH still consider WCWB as the parent
body of ICEVH. It is our strong desire to retain the status "Con-
sultative Committee on Education" of WCWB, as we believe that such
close affiliation contributes not only to the effectiveness of our two
organizations, but is also beneficial to our mutual efforts to provide
better services to the visually handicapped. To secure the strong ties
between WCWB and ICEVH, a proposal to amend the constitution of
ICEVH will be made at the next Quinquennial Conference to the effect
that WCWB is assured a permanent representation on the Executive
Committee of ICEVH.
76
At the Paris Quinquennial Conference in 1977, a significant change of
the Constitution of ICEVH was made: Recognizing the different needs
in different parts of the world, the Executive Committee decided to
regionalize the activities of ICEVH. Subsequently, in addition to the
International President and Vice-President, seven Regional Presidents
were elected for the following regions :
Africa
Europe
Far East
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Oceania
This proved to be a very beneficial and effective move, as we can see
a distinct increase of promotional activities in educational affairs for the
visually handicapped at regional levels. The following is a brief sum-
mary of the various activities of ICEVH since my election as Inter-
national President in 1977. At this point, I would like to pay tribute to
my predecessor. Dr. Jeanne Kenmore, under whose competent and
vigorous leadership ICEVH has flourished in many aspects. She has in
particular promoted teacher training in many parts of the world, and
during her term of office, three Regional Conferences were conducted
in Singapore, Malaysia and Yugoslavia. Many more countries became
interested in ICEVH, and subsequently 78 of them were represented at
the 1977 Conference. In addition, 350 individual members were
recorded.
Considerable efforts to promote ICEVH activities were made in the
regions of Far East (Regional President Mr. William Brohier), Latin
America (Miss Susana Crespo) and Oceania (Mr. Keith Watkins). In
the Far East, Mr. Brohier organized a regional meeting in Penang in
February, 1978. Miss Crespo conducted a regional course for teachers
of ICEVH in the Latin American Region in August/September 1978 and
organized a regional meeting in Guatemala in May 1979. Since 1977,
she has published and distributed a total of 13 booklets on education
of the visually handicapped in the whole region. Mr. Watkins held
three regional meetings of the Oceania Committee in January, May and
June of 1978. In Europe (Mr. Michael Colborne Brown), special efforts
were made to organize aid measures for developing countries. In this
region, substantial funds were made available in support of needy
programmes in the Third World, and a strong nucleus of experts was
formed, many of whom have already assisted in overseas training
programmes. North America (Dr. Max Woolly) is planning a regional
conference for 1980. Unfortunately, no meetings were conducted in the
African and Middle East Regions owing to a number of reasons.
It is worth mentioning that a meeting of the International and
Regional Presidents took place in June 1978 in Hanover to implement
the practical consequences of the Paris decision to regionalize ICEVH
efforts.
A significant role within ICEVH is played by the Resources Com-
mittee under the chairmanship of Dr. Kurt Kristensen, Denmark. The
77
Committee has been established in order to assist needy countries
around the world in their educational programmes for the visually
handicapped. Its major function consists of providing experts for
conducting teacher training courses, counselling services and helping
needy countries to obtain teaching aids and equipment. During my
term of office, the Committee has also embarked on a new venture, i.e.
seconding experts to special projects/institutions where they share their
knowledge and experience with local educators. 1 believe that this type
of support is as effective as conducting teacher training courses with
participants from various projects. I am very happy to report a total
number of 25 individual projects that were carried out by the Resources
Committee during the first two years of the present quinquennium.
The following are some examples :
Ethiopia. This very moment, a teacher training course is being con-
ducted by four ICEVH experts in Addis Ababa.
Ghana. ICEVH secured the services of a German expert to head the
teacher training centre at Akropong.
Kenya. In this country, ICEVH assists the government with the plan-
ning and establishment of a permanent teacher training centre, the
first of such institutions in East Africa. Presently, in collaboration
with Christoffel BHndenmission, a mobility course is being carried
out in the capital of Nairobi, and another ICEVH expert is assisting
the Egoji School for the Blind with their educational programm.e.
Malawi. From April to September, 1979, an ICEVH expert seconded
by Christoffel BHndenmission, West Germany, is carrying out an
evaluation of the school programme of the Lulwe Mission School
for the Blind in Nsanje. She will give in-service-training to those
teachers without specialization for the blind and conduct seminars
for all teachers on principles and methods of teaching blind children.
Nigeria. A Danish ICEVH expert is to undertake an assignment in
autumn 1979 at the Nakam Memorial Secondary School for the
Blind in Barakin Ladi to help the school with their integrated
programme.
Sudan. One ICEVH expert is engaged in carrying out a survey in Sudan
to explore avenues of assistance to an organization of the blind.
Hong Kong. From 25th September to 6th November 1978, an ICEVH
expert from Great Britain visited the Ebenezer School for the Blind
to carry out a low vision programme. He estabhshed a record card
containing the essential information required by a classroom teacher
to interpret the children's visual handicap in terms of a classroom
situation. He was aided by inspectors from the Hong Kong Special
Education Department.
This was followed by a short workshop on education of the low
vision child in Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia.
India. ICEVH donated to the Red Cross School for the Blind in
Berhampur, Orissa, a Marburg Braille Duplicator to provide the
blind children of Orissa with text books in the Oriya language.
Indonesia. Two ICEVH experts from Australia visited the Helen Keller
International project which in cooperation with the Indonesian
Government is training teachers for blind children, developing
78
procedures for making educational aids, creating a permanent
mobility programme and introducing integrated education. Their
particular emphasis was placed on counselling parents of pre-school
blind children and on the teacher training programme for teachers
for Integrated Education.
Philippines. The Chairman of the ICEVH Resources Committee carried
out a four-week survey to explore possible areas of cooperation and
assistance for the benefit of blind children. Aid measures are already
under way.
Sri Lanka. The ICEVH President for the Far East Region undertook a
two week's survey to evaluate the request from the Ministry of
Education, Special Education Unit, to the ICEVH Resources Com-
mittee to establish a Braille Publishing Department. Upon his
recommendation, negotiations are under way with DANIDA, the
Danish Development Agency, to provide such equipment to the
Ministry of Education.
In Europe, one workshop was held in Denmark and two in Portugal
with the participation of advisory teachers, administrators and
teachers of the visually handicapped. The themes were the measure-
ment of visual function and the systematic training of the use of
residual vision. Lecture sessions, discussions and demonstrations
completed the programmes.
Another exciting ICEVH project was a sponsorship programme for
needy children in developing countries through which they will be
provided with an "Educational Kit for the Blind". This apparatus has
been jointly developed by the Royal Commonwealth Society for the
Blind, Christoffel Blindenmission and an Indian manufacturer, Voltas
Ltd. It contains a standard braille writing frame, a pocket frame, an
abacus, a braille ruler, two tape measures and a spurred wheel for
embossing diagrams, i.e. the basic items of equipment required by a
blind school student. While 8,000 of such kits have been distributed by
the two aforementioned international organizations, ICEVH has
launched its own appeal among schools for the blind in developed
countries in order to secure more such Kits for needy children in Asia,
Africa and Latin America. I am happy to report that countless blind
children, educators and parents have responded to this, and up to now
funds for over 1,200 Kits, each at a price of US$20, have been collected.
A Kit is available for inspection at this Conference.
Finally, I wish to mention that the official publication of ICEVH, a
newsletter called "The Educator", is still being produced by the Perkins
School for the Blind and made available to members of ICEVH in
Enghsh, Spanish and French. "The Educator" is pubHshed twice a
year, and I am extremely grateful for the very devoted services of the
Editor, Mr. William T. Heisler.
ICEVH is not a one-man-show. Without the initiative and vigour of a
v/orld-wide team of people who give much of their time, energy and
knowledge with the genuine desire to serve the visually handicapped, it
would just be an organization that exists on paper. I am grateful to all
my friends and colleagues who made ICEVH an active and serving
organism.
79
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 3
COOPERATION IN DEVELOPMENT
Friday morning, August 3, 1979
Chairman: Mr. Harold G. Roberts, U.S.A.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AID TO
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
by Harold G. Roberts, Chairman
Report Period: 1974-1979
The Committee on Aid to Developing Countries is a standing com-
mittee of the World Council appointed by the Honorary Officers for a
period of five years. Its primary function is to advance the general
welfare of blind persons in developing countries by promoting increased
bilateral and international aid.
The current membership is as follows :
Mr. Abdullah Al-Ghanim — Saudi Arabia
Mr. Marion Golwala — Poland
Mr. Per Hagermalm — Sweden
Mr. Jesus Jiminez Albeniz — Spain
Mr. Andre Nicolle — France
Mr. Harold G. Roberts — Helen Keller International
Mr. Wolfgang Stein — Christoffel Blindenmission
Sir John Wilson, C.B.E. — Royal Commonwealth Society
for the Blind
The Committee, which has met three times during this quinquennium,
is most fortunate in that Mr. Boris Zimin, President and Mr. Anders
Arnor, Honorary Secretary General, have attended each meeting. The
Committee will next meet in Antwerp immediately prior to the Council's
General Assembly. The specific activities of the Committee include the
following:
Advocacy
As stated earlier, the chief mission of the Committee is to advance
the general welfare of blind persons in developing countries by pro-
moting increased bilateral and international aid.
Since the members of the Committee represent advanced countries,
each has played an active role in encouraging their respective nations to
provide increasing assistance to meet the needs of blind persons in less
80
developed nations. The international representatives on the Committee
have also promoted increased support from international bodies such
as the United Nations and its specialized agencies, the World Bank, the
European Common Market, the Organization of A.merican States, etc.
Recently, the Committee conducted a survey to determine the
amount of assistance provided to developing nations by WCWB
member countries. Despite the fact that only thirteen (13) of the
twenty-seven (27) countries responded to the questionnaire and some
were unable to secure information about foreign assistance from all
sources, it is clear that substantial progress is being made. It is estimated
that the amount of annual aid is probably in the order of 20 million
dollars (US) a three-fold increase in the past four-year period.
It is particularly gratifying to note that the number of member
countries that are helping others in their expansion and improvement
of speciahzed services for the bhnd is increasing significantly.
Copies of the full survey report are available at the WCWB Head-
quarters.
Disaster Relief
The Honorary Officers have also assigned responsibility to the
Committee on Aid for promoting assistance to countries in which
natural disasters have occurred affecting blind persons and services for
them. Specific requests for such assistance are directed to the Honorary
Officers who, upon careful evaluation may then assign the task of
securing funds to the Committee on Aid.
One such example occurred during this quinquennium in connection
with the devastating earthquake in Guatemala. The Committee then
undertook responsibility for promoting aid among the Council's mem-
ber countries for the restoration of facilities which were either destroyed
or damaged. It was most heartwarming that such aid both in cash and
in kind was forthcoming in substantial amounts. In cash alone well in
excess of $100,000 (US) was contributed.
This exceptional response gives testament to the humanitarian
characteristics of the international field of blindness which does in fact
constitute a world family. Well-earned praise is also due to the National
Committee for the Blind of Guatemala and to its president, Mrs. Elisa
Molina de Stahl and her colleagues for their heroic actions in caring for
the many blind persons who were injured and homeless.
The Committee has also undertaken the task of providing supple-
mentary material for inclusion in the disaster relief manual of the
United Nations Office of Disaster Relief. It contains information about
the special needs of blind persons and suggested precautions that
should be taken to avoid eye injuries in emergency situations.
UNESCO Cooperative Action Programme
Another form of direct assistance to developing countries is ex-
pressed through its participation in UNESCO's Cooperative Action
Programme. The Committee has been assigned responsibility for dis-
tributing funds made available by UNESCO from this programme. A
81
maximum of $2,000 (US) for any single contribution to an agency
serving blind persons has been set by the Committee. Approximately
$20,000 US has been distributed annually. Time does not permit a
listing of those agencies which have benefited from this programme
during this quinquennium, but every effort has been made to assure a
balanced distribution geographically and to avoid duplication.
The Committee is grateful to the WCWB Secretariat for its fine
assistance in administering this programme.
82
MOBILIZATION OF AID RESOURCES
INCLUDING BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL AID
by W. Stein
Christoffel Blindenmission, Federal Republic of Germany
My subject "Mobilization of Aid Resources" is based on the fact
that we are living in a world in which the goods are not equally dis-
tributed. As a consequence, part of our world's population lives in
affluence, while the other part suffers from poverty. An invisible line
around the globe thus separates the rich from the poor; it is this
boundary that we endeavour to penetrate in order to achieve a certain
balance between the two groups. Such attempt is in fact being made at
various levels, with different methods and motivations. Without further
examination of these so-called "Aid to Developing Countries Pro-
grammes", it seems that these actions are ruled and governed by one
common denominator, i.e. on one side are those who give and on the
other those who receive. Such relationship between groups imposes
very unequal roles upon them, and the psychological consequences
have been examined on many occasions and by various experts. They
have all come to the same conclusion: The unhealthy character of this
relationship is based on the fact that one group assumes a "dictating"
and the other a "submissive" role. From the patronizing attitude of the
giving group which determines the ume, frequency, extent and nature
of aid, the stigma of charity also results, and it is this very stigmatization
of the relationship which does not allow a real partnership to grow
between the two groups. At the end of my deliberations I shall come
back to this fact.
Let us first of all examine the existing channels of International Aid
Programmes. Roughly speaking, these programmes are carried out at
three levels :
(i) Government-to-Government Aid Programmes
(ii) Organization-to-Organization Aid Programmes
(iii) Individual-to-Individual Assistance.
I shall begin with the last group because in my opinion this is the
most human, the warmest and most honest form of helping one another.
Perhaps it is not always the best and most effective way, but it bears
certain elements which the other two groups do not possess : It involves
affection, very often love, respect for the other, and often sacrifices. I
know a widow who from her small pension has financed the entire
medical studies of a doctor in India, and in a recent effort of the
Resources Committee of the International Council for Education of the
Visually Handicapped, many individual blind children have pooled
their savings in order to be able to give a Braille Educational Kit to
83
another needy blind child in Africa or Asia. In this context, I remember
the many thousands of individual sponsorships through which on a
private basis needy children and young adults are provided with
education and vocational training. Very often, a most intimate relation-
ship between sponsor and his protege develops, from which both donor
and recipient benefit through a lifelong friendship.
One of the finest examples I have seen has even very little to do with
money: It is the example of a young man who spent many months with
individual blind farmers in Asia, shared their frugal village life, and
during his stay helped every one of them to dig a well. Between these
people from diff'erent continents, race, colour, culture, language and
religion, a very close affection, friendship and respect developed. Even
more: the "donor" was at the same time "recipient", as he became an
integral part of a people from whose traditions, customs and habits
and about whose fight for survival he was able to learn. The experience
broadened his own horizon, and the friendship with his far away
neighbours has enriched his own life. We should encourage and further
such private initiative, even though our organizational structures do
not include eff'orts of this nature.
Governmental Aid plays — as many people believe — the greatest and
most significant role in aid programmes. My investigations have raised
doubts in such belief! Example: In 1979, a certain European country
has budgetted 0.7 per cent of its annual budget for aid to developing
countries. However, a closer examination reveals that 80 per cent of
this amount constitutes repayable loans! What remains as a genuine
donation is US $450 million. Further investigation revealed that in the
same country only nine of the largest private organizations raised
US SI 80 miUion for the same purpose, i.e. more than one third of
governmental aid. Adding the funds of more than 40 other smaller
organizations, and taking into consideration all channels of individual
assistance, private aid equals, if not exceeds, governmental a'd. I do
not wish to enter into the controversy whether governmental or prwate
development a'd is more eff'ective; however, quite a number of factors
speak /o/- the greater eff"ectiveness of private aid: it is in most cases
linked with the assignment of experts, it involves close partnership
between donor and recipient organizations, the utilization of funds is
made transparent, and frequently such aid is extended on a contmued
basis. In other words, I propagate and recommend aid measures of
private organizations. Many representatives of such organizations are
present at this conference, and I do not think that they have made
fullest use of all possibilities of this type of aid, although many remark-
able achievements have been made. There is a tremendous reservoir of
readiness to help, resources and manpower. It will be our task to find
the right ways to tap them. This brings me to the practical part of my
deliberations, based on the experience of a private organization which
has in the past years been able to make available constantly risking
funds to developing countries. Perhaps some of the basic principles and
techniques of the mobihzation of aid may be of help and assistance to
others.
84
Phase I Identification of Needs
Quite frequently, this is the most difficult task, and here the overseas
partner plays a vital role. Only he knows exactly what the problems and
the priorities of his country are, and his proposals of how to tackle a
certain problem must not be overlooked! It is not the donor organiza-
tion that decides on aid programmes, but the detennination and will
of the overseas partner which serves as solid foundation for short or
long term measures. The donor organization often has to choose
between several apphcations for help, and identify the priorities. It
must examine the possible participation of another donor group and
decide on the extent and duration of its assistance. Any possible over-
lapping or duplication of efforts must be carefully investigated. Open
and frank dialogue between partners is therefore required. Once a
positive decision has been taken, loyalty and faithfulness are expected
from both partners in order to secure the completion of the project.
Much damage has been done by aid programmes that were started and
not completed. This was often caused by the absence of a precise
agreement between partners. This leads us to :
Phase II Communications of Partner Organizations
The partnership should be clearly defined as to nature, extent and
duration and, if possible, put down in writing. Such agreement guaran-
tees certain rights and duties for both groups. The following clauses
should be included in the agreement:
For the DONOR ORGANIZATION:
(a) To provide certain funds at certain dates.
(b) To provide material, equipment etc. at certain dates.
(c) To provide the services of experts for certain periods.
(d) The right to visit the project in order to be fully informed about its
progress.
(e) The right to report on a project via mass media (press, radio,
television).
(f) The right to evaluate results for research purposes.
(g) The right to second workers to the project for study and training
purposes.
For the RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION:
(a) The commitment to develop the project in accordance with the
agreement between the partners.
(b) To make available own resources and contributions as agreed upon.
(c) To report to the partner on a regular basis on the development of
the project.
(d) To provide the partner with audited accounts which make the
utilization of funds transparent.
(e) To determine the date of assuming total financial responsibility of
the project.
85
Phase III Presentation of Needs
Once an organization has decided to collect funds for needy people
in another part of the world, it is well advised not to do this in an
anonymous way. Slogans such as "Help the Blind" or "Give to the
Poor" cannot motivate a donor. The identification of needs must
precede all fund raising activities, and experience has shown that the
most successful publicity is the presentation of an identified and clearly
defined need. How is this done ?
The presentation of needs is not only a question of clever PR tech-
niques because there is an important moral issue at stake. It is no doubt
a great art to report on poverty, suffering, and distress without violating
human dignity! In this context, I could quote sad examples of horror
pictures and shock stories revealing a complete disrespect of human
dignity. Besides, such illustrations of human misery very often have the
adverse effect — instead of encouraging a potential donor, they repel
him! The same applies to exaggerated reports and the quotation of
excessive figures.
The consideration of the following principles of fund raising activities
have led — according to my experience — to the best results :
(a) Honest and plain presentation of nature and extent of the problem,
its causes and consequences.
(b) Presentation of important details which lead to a better under-
standing of the problem as a whole. The simple man in the street
should also be approached and his sympathy aroused.
(c) It is useful to have this presentation endorsed by another "witness".
(d) Presentation of the partner organization and its responsibility. The
latter may best be illustrated by quoting other tasks already
successfully accomplished.
(e) Presentation of a clear plan of action. This should include the
funds required and the possible involvement of experts.
(f) The appeal should not only bear the name of an organization but
also of a person responsible for the proper administration and
u^ihzation of funds.
(g) The donor must be guaranteed that he will be informed about the
progress of the project at regular intervals, particularly how his
donation has contributed to the success. This promise must be kept!
(h) Last not least: the receipt of every single donation, even the very
smallest, must be acknowledged immediately.
Keeping these principles in mind, one is likely to find not only a donor
but a friend. Through his regular donations it will be possible to secure
the continued assistance of a project or to accept new commitments. In
our country, there is a potential reservoir of helpful, noble and generous
people, and some of them merely distrust the "channels" of aid. They
have been scared off and disappointed by reports on the misuse or
embezzlement of donations. It will be our task to gain and maintain
their confidence. Perhaps they are more likely to trust our organizations
86
than the anonymous governmental aid. We must endeavour to honour
their confidence.
This brings me back to my opening remarks, to the problem of the
rich and the poor, the problem of giving and receiving. Nobody can
tell how long the present situation in our world will last. In recent
years we have observed tremendous changes in world economy, the
significance of which we cannot judge today. It is quite possible that
today's donors will be tomorrow's recipients, and vice versa. Many of
my generation have lived to see such a phenomenon. For this reason I
would like to plead for the abolishment of the present principle of
"donors" and "recipients", giving and receiving, and to replace it by
the belief in "sharing". It is not welfare that our world needs, but
solidarity of mankind. If we do not do this out of conviction today,
perhaps the circumstances will force us tomorrow. Every year presents
us with more challenges and growing problems around the world. To
cope with them cannot be left to the politicians. All of us who partici-
pate in this conference, all of us who carry responsibility, particularly
for the handicapped, should become actively engaged in this task. It is
not new techniques that we need but a new philosophy, a new belief;
this belief should also determine our actions.
87
COOPERATION OF THE RECIPIENT COUNTRY
by Ismaila Konate
President, Malian Association for the Welfare of the Blind
I. Introduction
In the world of today no man can keep himself shut away and fend
for himself whatever the circumstances. Interdependence is therefore
the rule.
Cooperation in development with regard to the policy of emanci-
pating the blind, comes within this field.
Thus, well provided for countries or organizations help countries
less fortunate than themselves.
In order for this cooperation to be effective, certain principles, which
we shall mention below, should be respected.
n. The Philosophy of Aid
We believe that human solidarity is not an idle word. In fact, co-
operation has always been the basis of human relations. All societies
have taken this into account, whether or not on religious grounds and
whatever the colour of their skin.
If there is ground for understanding in this disordered world, it is
surely the fact that man remains of cardinal importance. All action
should be directed towards preserving his dignity. Help should be
given without ulterior motives and be for a specific purpose. In any
case, it should never be forced on him.
III. Conditions for Aid to be Effective
The country or the organization concerned should first of all request
aid and know exactly what it is to be used for. The request should be
well thought out and projects should be well coordinated. A judicious
choice and a programme are therefore needed. In a word, the organiza-
tion or the country should be ready to receive the aid.
1. Administration
The organization in a country soliciting aid should have its own
structures and branches throughout the country. It should avoid
administrative red tape, but should, however, have very close ties with
the various services working for the blind. It should have a head-
quarters and a permanent secretariat capable of handling files, carrying
out projects and giving useful information. This secretariat should
naturally be organized by a competent official with unshakable faith in
his task. He does not necessarily have to be a handicapped person.
However, experience has shown that someone with a first-hand know-
ledge of the problems of the handicapped is best.
It is essential that this leader be aware of the country's problems and
have connections with the public authorities.
2. Programme
Programmes should form part of the development plan of the country
and have the approval of the competent authorities. They should clearly
define the objectives to be attained and the means of doing so.
It is wise not to be too ambitious at the start and never to go too fast.
The economic and financial situation of the country should always be
taken into account and the work carried out progressively.
3. Execution and Control
Aid granted should always be used for the programme agreed on.
In no circumstances should the money be used for other purposes.
Furthermore, the execution of the work should be followed up and
assessed periodically.
4. Continuity
There is no point in launching a project with foreign aid unless
continuity is ensured. In fact, the country's and the organization's own
resources should be determined so as to carry on with the work and,
if necessary, expand it.
III. Conclusion
In this report we have stressed the points which are important if
cooperation is to be effective. As we have said, it should be based on
good organization and avoid wastage and useless action which is of no
encouragement to those who wish to help.
In this context a satisfactory result can be achieved both for the
donor and the recipient.
89
THE BLIND IN DISASTER SITUATIONS
(Earthquake in Guatemala — 1976)
by Elisa Molina de Stahl, Guatemala
1. General Background
For the purpose of this presentation, I think that it is essential to
offer a historical summary of the structure of our organization: The
National Committee for the Blind.
The National Committee for the Blind was founded in 1946 in
Guatemala, Central America.
This Committee renders assistance without receiving any state sub-
sidy or contribution. The support of the organization stems from the
income originated by a lottery and from private donations. Such funds
are not sufficient to cover the budget owing to the high standards of its
service, their vast social projection and the continuous need for
expansion.
The highest authority relies on a Board of Directors, whose members
serve ad honorem. The planning, coordination, and evaluation of the
programmes are carried out by a multiprofessional team, presided by
the Executive Director, who supervises all activities.
2. Objectives
2.1 Prevention of Blindness, treatment of eye diseases and sight
conservation programmes.
Education, rehabilitation and geriabilitation of the blind and
visually handicapped.
Training of specialized personnel and promotion of eye health
in all strata of the population.
In order to reach these objectives, the Committee is divided in two
branches :
Administrative and
Technical
The second includes:
2.1.1 Medical Division:
(a) Prevention of Blindness
(b) Treatment of eye diseases
(c) Sight Conservation
(d) Postgraduate Course in Ophthalmology
(e) Training courses for members of the medical and
paramedical personnel.
These activities are carried out in hospitals and clinics,
in urban and rural areas.
90
2.1.2 Educational Division:
(a) Early stimulation programmes for blind and visually
handicapped children
(b) Early stimulation programmes for deaf and aphasic
children
(c) Pre-grammar and grammar school educational pro-
grammes for blind and visually handicapped children
(d) Pre-grammar and grammar school educational pro-
grammes for deaf and aphasic children
(e) Educational programmes for blind children with
additional problems
(f) Industrial educational programmes for blind young-
sters of normal and moderate intelligence.
These programmes are developed in co-educational and
residential schools.
(g) Integration programmes for blind children in public
schools.
2.1.3 Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and Geriabilitation :
(a) Vocational RehabiUtation programmes for blind
adults of urban areas
(b) Agricultural Vocational Training Center for rural
adult blind
(c) Placement services for urban and rural blind
(d) Sheltered workshops
(e) Geriatric rehabilitation programmes for aged blind
(f) Subsidies for aged blind, with multiple deficiencies.
3. The 1976 Catastrophe
At dawn, on February 4, 1976, Guatemala was shaken by a violent
earthquake which affected 75 per cent of the country, paralyzing all its
vital services. However, the majority of the Committee's personnel
promptly reported to lend their services that same day.
It would be well to emphasize that during those difficult moments,
almost everyone was present: members of the Board, executives, tech-
nicians and service personnel. Nobody stayed behind the lines at this
very crucial time, in which a great spirit of cooperation, solidarity and
responsibility prevailed on the part of the personnel, who love, under-
stand, and have taken the work of the Institution unto themselves.
3.1 Medical Assistance during the disaster:
Besides helping at their own work centers, the teaching staff" gave
voluntary services in the Agency's main hospital which, in spite
of being seriously damaged, became an assistance center, not
only for eye and ear diseases, but for all types of traumas.
The clinics in the interior of the country which were destroyed
were replaced by emergency camps in canvas wall tents serving as
clinics where ordinary and extraordinary work was continued
according to the needs of the moment, thus serving a double
91
purpose: first, the objectives previously established for the
prevention of blindness and second, care was provided for people
who needed these services at the time of the emergency.
When the clearing and reconstruction stage came, the Com-
mittee planned an informative campaign on prevention using all
communications media (billboards, posters, radio, TV, etc.),
both in Spanish as in the regional dialects derived from the
Mayan language.
Furthermore, as the earthquake coincided with the year dedi-
cated by WHO for the Prevention of Blindness, in spite of the
circumstances, great priority was given to all preventive aspects
of eye hygiene, and those who were at risk were given protective
eyeglasses as well as the necessary assistance and treatment. The
participation of the Committee's officials at the head of this
movement reached places which were almost inaccessible, and
became an example that spread and enabled the fulfilment of
WHO'S basic principles and the Committee's objectives.
3.2 Educational and Rehabilitation Services during the disaster:
In temporary camps installed in the gardens and patios of our
Schools and Rehabilitation Centers, students who were left
homeless and who were subject to great dangers and severe want
in their homes were given care. This group of the population,
counting students and adults, was very high.
3.3 Social Impact:
The first step was to establish an estimate of the number of
people injured, as well as of the damages sustained at the
Agency's centers.
An individual survey was then carried out with regard to the
number of deceased, vanished, injured and wounded among the
blind and their relatives. An analysis was also made in each case
with regard to those who were left completely homeless or with
partially destroyed dwellings.
Based on this study, we were able to establish the following : that
from the total blind and visually handicapped population of the
country, 0.41 per cent died or disappeared; 28 per cent were
injured or had minor wounds; 66 per cent were left homeless;
23 per cent were left with partially destroyed dwellings; 48 per
cent were placed in emergency camps; and 41 per cent received
tents to install in their own premises.
This population, in its entirety, was furnished with drinking
water, food, clothing, medical services, medicines, and psycho-
logical services.
In cooperation with State and municipal services, assistance was
given for removing dwellings which were in danger of falling
down. The total of these dwellings accounted for 64 per cent of
those partially destroyed.
Construction materials were given to 41 per cent of this popula-
tion, as well as technical assistance for construction. Housing
92
applications were presented to the National Housing Bank
(BANVI) on behalf of 48 per cent of this group. These houses
were obtained in a relatively short time.
The Savings and Loans Credit Union "CIEGOS UNIDOS"
granted loans at 1.6 per cent and up to a maximum amount of
Q. 5,000. 00 for each blind person affected by the earthquake.
These were reconstruction loans and were made possible by a
loan received from FENA.COAC (The National Federation of
Cooperatives for Loans and Savings).
Financial aid in a lump sum was given to the families of the blind
who died during the catastrophe.
All the people sponsored under this plan were given guidance
and supervision with regard to health aspects due to the emer-
gency situation.
3.4 Behaviour of the Blind at the time of the Earthquake:
From any point of view, the blind or visually handicapped are
no different than the sighted, except for their limitation of vision.
Therefore they act and funcdon just as the rest of the population
and insofar as their behaviour in practical life. A blind person's
reactions in such a situation are as varied as that of the rest of
the people.
Through the process of special education and rehabilitation, the
blind learn to use the rest of their senses, which allows them to
function by making use of the rest of their sensorial potential.
3.4.1 Description of the phenomenon as lived by the bhnd:
Both the blind and the sighted listened to a noise similar
to the breaking of waves or a rumble, and as this noise got
closer, the seismic tremors started to be felt with more
intensity each time. The intensity of the earthquake
caused the automatic shut-off of electricity, which left the
sighted without the use of artificial light. But the blind
are trained to move around in the dark with perfect orien-
tation and a clear knowledge of those places which might
pose physical danger to them or their families. Although
many objects (leads) moved from their regular places, the
blind, with the aid of points of reference, had a greater
advantage than the sighted. There were numberless cases
in which the blind guided their seeing relatives until they
reached a safe place.
The entire population, without distinction between the blind and
the sighted, the rich or the poor, did not escape the anxiety,
confusion and panic caused by this situation of strong emotional
stress. It was really very difficult for the blind and the visually
handicapped to walk through streets full of debris and danger.
No reactions of gross psychopathology were observed among the
blind who were hospitalized, but they did show great concern in
knowing the fate of their relatives.
93
3.5 International Aid :
Because of the usual efficiency and organizational capacity of the
World Council and its specific Commission on Aid to Developing
Countries, the National Committee for the Blind received timely
aid and moral support. The World Council first served in the
capacity of world promoter and, after its benevolent achieve-
ments, as a catalyzing entity. All donations were used according
to the needs and problems to be solved. Furthermore, they
constituted a morale raising factor which touched our feelings
and generated new energy to continue our endeavour with the
same faith, the same devotion and the same zeal.
We can now repeat as in the past: Gracias!, many gracias,
infinite gracias to all of you who, living far from us geographic-
ally, showed that in our world another's pain moves us to
universal cooperation. You came, promptly and overflowing
with fraternal kindness, to help mitigate the tragedies engendered
by the cataclysm of February 4, 1976 that affected, in every way,
three-quarters of our country so full of ideals, dreams, fulfilment.
Again and again, Gracias. The cooperation of all — of your own
people and of you who were then strangers and now are brothers
and sisters — permitted the Comite Nacional Pro Ciegos y
Sordomudos to continue lending its services without inter-
ruption, even when its only roof was the beautiful Guatemalan
sky, its only walls the Guatemalan mountains, looming majestic-
ally far away in our horizon.
94
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 4
COOPERATION IN IDENTIFYING PRIORITIES IN NATIONAL
PLANNING AND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
PERSONNEL
Friday afternoon, August 3, 1979
Chairman: Mr. Svend Jensen, Denmark
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT
by Svend Jensen, Chairman
Background
The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind has, through its
Standing Committees, tried to promote the development of some
specific fields, such as education, rehabilitation and employment of
the blind, etc.
Gradually as conditions have changed towards a more complicated
social structure in the developed as well as in the developing countries,
the need has arisen to map out and to influence the basic conditions
of the daily life of the citizens.
Upon examination of the discussions of precedent general assemblies,
it appears that a connection between the various fields of activities
stands out more and more clearly, just as it appears that these depend
to a great extent on the organization, planning and resources of society.
These considerations are clearly reflected in the resolutions adopted
at the General Assembly in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 1974. It was after this
General Assembly that the present Committee was set up. Mr. Ross C.
Purse of Canada was nominated chairman with the following members :
Mr. Ismaila Konate, Mali
Miss Winnie Ng, Malaysia
Mr. Dobroslaw Spychalski, Poland
Mr. Svend Jensen, Denmark
Mr. E. W. Christiansen, New Zealand
Mr. Boris V. Zimin, USSR, ex officio.
It was further intended to appoint a representative from the United
Kingdom and one from the United States of America.
Owing to an overwhelming national workload, Mr. Ross C. Purse
informed the Executive Committee of the World Council that he was
no longer able to chair the Committee. At the Executive meeting in
95
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1977, the Committee accepted the resignation
of Mr. Purse and nominated Svend Jensen, Denmark in his stead.
To estabhsh the basis for continued activity of the Committee, the
Chairman was invited to a discussion with the Honorary Officers of the
World Council in Paris in August 1977.
The Honorary Officers approved the Chairman's suggestion that the
Committee should add representatives from regions not so far repre-
sented. The Committee is now composed as follows:
Mr. Ismaila Konate, Mali
Miss Winnie Ng, Malaysia
Mr. Ross C. Purse, Canada
Dr. A. L. de Silva, United Kingdom ,
Mr. Dobroslaw Spychalski, Poland
Mr. Francisco Vasquez-Gorrio, Peru
Mrs. Ferzana Kazaroni, Bahrein
Mr. Boris V. Zimin, USSR.
The Committee was given the following fields of interest on which to
base its work :
1. Attitudes towards blindness as a handicap
2. The care of the blind child and parent guidance
3. Institutions (residential homes) and homes for the aged
4. The care of the multi-handicapped (excluding the deaf-blind)
5. Social legislation
6. Social insurance
7. Recreation and leisure activities (excluding sports, for which a
special Standing Committee has been set up)
8. Price reductions and increased services for journeys by plane,
train, etc.
It is clearly emphasized that the work of the Committee should not
interfere with the fields of interest of other existing committees, but
should deal only with purely basic subjects in fields where specialized
organs are already working.
At first sight, the subjects may seem to be very unambiguous, but on
reflection, it appears that first and foremost it is necessary for the
Committee to try to map out the conception of the subjects, since the
Committee's geographic field of activity is global and therefore covers
the most varied communities, structures, political systems, cultural
backgrounds and economic capacities. The Committee therefore sent a
circular letter to all its members asking for the local definition of the
term "social development". Further, we asked for the three principal
objectives of the member organization and finally the three practical
tasks considered to be the most important.
However, as the European Regional Committee is working on the
presentation of basic social demands in the European countries, it was
decided, as far as Europe was concerned, to await the results of this
work in order to have a joint European summing up of the problems.
This took place at the General Assembly of the European Regional
Committee in Prague in November 1978 where a resolution on the
social rights of the blind was adopted.
96
As a basis for its future work, the Committee now has the above-
mentioned resolution and the replies to the circular letter from ten
countries outside Europe. The United Nations Declaration of December
9, 1975 on the Rights of Disabled Persons will naturally also be in-
cluded in future initiatives as a valuable working basis.
At first sight the term "social development" may seem to be very
straightforward and simple, but on reflection it is not as simple as it
appears.
The term can be divided up into an interpretation of the word
"social" and the word "development".
The word "social" is often connected with economy because the
expression "social politics" traditionally covers social measures aimed
at crea^^ing welfare systems of various kinds for the individual citizen.
Such systems will often take the form of economic support or practical
assistance to persons who, for a short or long period, are in an unusual
situation. The definition of the word "social" can, however, also mean
forming part of the community and working for the common good.
Using this definition of the word, it will, for the blind be a question of
aiming at equality and integration in what we call the nornial com-
munity.
The term "development" is also very often connected with economy,
owing to the fact that development is mentioned, for instance, in
relation to the degree of industrialization and much of the aid granted
by the rich countries to the poor ones is aimed at increasing the economic
development of the country in question.
Development can also be something purely humanitarian, i.e. aiming
at improving the quality of life.
There are other possible interpretations of the term "social develop-
ment" but merely t3y taking into account those mentioned above leads
us to ask whether, in our member organizations, there exists an un-
ambiguous attitude towards the term.
From the few replies received from the member organizations, it can
be noted that the interpretation of the term "social development" does
not deviate much from one place to another. Tn general, social develop-
ment is considered to be a striving towards a community with greater
equality, with a positive attitude of acceptance towards all groups of
minorities ; a community which does not isolate special groups but, on
the contrary, tries to build up an all embracing whole.
It is obvious that the premises on which this viewpoint is based are
different because conditions are different from one region to another
throughout the world. But it can also be noted that there seems to be a
uniform viewpoint of the objectives, whereas there are different view-
points about the means of attaining them. Also the interpretation of the
objective differs, a difference originating first and foremost from the
ethical and cultural backgrounds of the respective countries.
Objectives
All our member organizations have a number of fundamental
objectives, most of which are laid down in the Statutes. Generally, such
objectives have an idealistic interpretation owing to the fact that
97
they serve as a guiding star for the daily work. The Committee
has asked which three sections of the objectives our members consider
to be the most important and the three subjects which are chiefly
stated are education, training and employment.
Practical work
We are, of course, aware that in the daily work the ideals and the
principles are not constantly dealt with but that the total and final aim
of the organizations is the realization of the objectives. The day's work
has, however, its demands on the solving of many different problems
and we have therefore also asked the member organizations to inform
us which three activities they consider the most important at the
moment and again we have received the rephes education, training and
employment.
Conclusion
To evaluate the information mentioned above, we must establish
that on a global level the aims of the organizations are rather narrow at
the present time. Education, training and employment are fields of
activity aiming at certain groups of the blind, i.e. children, young people
and adults — that is, adults in good physical shape apart from being
blind, and not too old. The problems of these groups are naturally very
important, but the groups outside these fields of activities are probably
much larger.
In the industrialized countries, public eff'orts for the blind over some
two hundred years have developed. In the beginning, work for the blind
took place in communities with limited resources and the few resources
available had therefore to be used in a concentrated eff"ort based upon
an estimate of the effectiveness of the utilization of the resources. The
result was the establishment of special institutions for the blind. The
development took place so fast that over a period of less than fifty years
a wide-ranging net of special institutions was established in the entire
indistrialized part of the world. The development offered new possi-
bilities for education, training and employment of the blind and, from
this point of view, the development must be said to be positive. But the
price to be paid for this positive development was that the blind became
isolated from the normal community, which resulted in problems when
the blind person regained the normal community. Next, "integration"
became the big slogan and it resulted in a reduction of established
special institutions with the intention of avoiding segregation as far
as possible.
Exchange of experiences is part of the work of WCWB, so that
mistakes made in one part of the world will not be made in others.
Therefore, the idea which immediately comes to mind is that the
industrialized countries should recommend non-industrialized countries
to avoid the development described here and establish integrated
systems from the beginning.
We must, however, realize that the problem is not so simple. Firstly,
in many non-industrialized countries resources and manpower are
98
scarce and this must necessarily lead to a concentration of resources.
Secondly, an integrated system implies that, on the whole, there is
something to integrate into and this is not the case everywhere in the
world, because in some of the countries there are no education,
training and employment possibilines for the entire population.
We must therefore realize that some of the non-industrialized coun-
tries will not be able to do without a system of special institutions.
These countries must benefit from the experience of the industrialized
countries and plan the institutions accordingly. Therefore it must be
seen to that these special institutions do not become enclaves in the
community but show an active and extrovert attitude, ensuring that
chents do not become alienated from the demands of a normal life,
just as the normal population must be given the necessary knowledge
and information of the activities of the special institutions so that the
minorities when they have finished their education and return to their
communities will not be met with the wrong attitudes.
The consequences of a special institution system, owing to lack of
resources will, of course, be that offers will be limited to a small group
of blind people. This involves the risk of creating an elite and it is
therefore of vital importance that in the future activities of all special
institutions the demands of less fortunate fellow countrymen are taken
into account. It must be realized that future organizing policy will, in
all essentials, be based on the few blind people who have received
relevant education and training. Therefore, if the future aim of the
organizations is to be to the benefit of all the blind, measures have to
be taken so that the well educated elite are not brought up only to take
care of their own limited fields of interest.
Future Activities of the Committee
When the Committee was set up, certain tasks within the social field
were enumerated and the hope was expressed that the Committee
would set up sub-committees to take care of tasks within each special
field.
A division of the work of the Committee into sub-specialities cannot,
however, be considered appropriate. Special committees are desirable
to take care of special objectives in fields where basic starting points are
available and where the building up of service functions is therefore
possible. If this is not the case, it is impossible not to take into account
the connection there is in the whole spectrum of tasks. It is, for instance,
not possible to deal with problems such as social security, education
and employment of the blind without at the same time taking into
consideration the general attitude of the community to the blind.
It must be realized that the conditions or the basis for the work of the
Committee differ according to the region in which the work has to be
done.
It therefore seems to be more reasonable to build up the rules of the
work of the Committee based on the regional division of the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind. The European Regional Com-
mittee has just decided to set up a standing committee to deal with
99
social matters and it would be a good idea to recommend all Regional
Committees to follow this example. If this suggestion can be carried
through, the Standing Coimnittee on Social Development of the
WCWB ought to consist of representatives appointed among the
members of these regional social committees. With such a structure, it
will be possible to do work which is essential in every region and it will
also be possible to coordinate the efforts and carry through principal
discussions to the benefit of a development aiming at the objectives we
have in common — the objectives of equality and an active interest in
what is going on in the community.
By way of illustration of the work of such a regional committee, we
quote below the beginning of a resolution on the social rights of the
blind, approved by the General Assembly of the European Regional
Committee in Prague :
"Every individual is entitled to free development of his own positive
capacities and full realization of his personality in the physical, mental,
and moral spheres. This fundamental right also applies without
limitation to blind people. It puts them into the position to fulfil their
duties towards society in the same way as all other citizens. Society has
the duty to provide all necessary conditions so that the blind person
can enjoy the same rights as all other citizens. This concept is based,
generally, on the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and
more particularly on the "Declaration on the Rights of Disabled
Persons" which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on
December 9, 1975.
"A Resolution on the Social Rights of the Blind is necessary in
addition, because blindness is a particularly severe handicap which can
endanger the very existence of the individual and, therefore, calls for
special measures to ensure equal opportunity. It is essential that a
system of social services be set up by every national government and
society which guarantees that all blind citizens can live in security,
freedom and dignity. Although blindness can never be off"set by legal
and social act.on, the functional obstruction which results from this
handicap can be relieved to some extent by social rights and measures."
It will be an obvious task for a new committee on social development
to carry through a debate on a global level, for instance, using as a
basis the European presentation in order to provide a worldwide
declaration on the social rights of the blind.
The Honorary Officers of the WCWB made it possible for the Com-
mittee to be represented at the "Rehabilitation International" Con-
ference on Legislation Concerning the Disabled, held in Manila in
January 1978. The participation in this congress had two purposes.
Firstly, to demonstrate our desire to cooperate with other invalid
groups, secondly, to register the development and initiatives, if any. It
should be noted that "Rehabilitation International" is an organization
chiefly concerned v\ ith the interests of the physically handicapped group
and our problems Vvcre only dealt with in the congress to a minor degree.
The Committee is of the opinion that this clearly indicates that the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind has been able to place
itself as the central world organization within our special field.
100
We must, however, emphasize that this, shall we call it, division of
the work, clearly shows the need for cooperation. Rehabilitation
International adopted a number of resolutions, one of which is men-
tioned below:
"The Congress recommends that national and international advisory
groups are established which can assist political organs in working out
legislation in the social field. It is also recommended that such advisory
organs should consist of public representatives as well as representatives
from institutions and organizations for and of the disabled. Such a
development may evoke a response in several places of the world
because there is an increasing tendency towards general solutions of the
problems of the handicapped. Such a development also falls in line
with the desire to increase integration of the handicapped in the normal
community. The development must not proceed in such a way so that
general solutions are established, without attention being paid to the
very special needs of each category of handicapped. Our member
organizations must therefore carefully watch whether such advisory
organizations are set up and, in the affirmative, ensure that they can
exercise their influence therein.
As outlined above, the Committee has tried to get a general idea of
its field of activities. Investigations have shown that it is very difficult to
obtain working material in some of our fields of interest. It is therefore
of the greatest importance that ILO has started collecting material on
social legislation concerning the blind. This material will be a valuable
tool for the future work of the Committee on Social Development.
101
PLANNING IN EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES
by Yanaky Gradev
President, Union of the Blind in Bulgaria
Planning in the countries of Eastern Europe, whose official state
policy is the socialist way of development, represents a fundamental
part of the system of state government. These countries are: the Union
of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the Socialist Republic of
Rumania, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, the Socialist Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia, the People's Republic of Albania, the People's
Republic of Hungary, the People's Republic of Poland, the Czecho-
slovak Socialist Republic and the German Democratic Repubhc.
Common characteristics of the social systems of these countries are the
political influence of the workers and the predominantly public owner-
ship of the means of production. This is the premise for total central
planning and control of economic and social development in socialist
society.
The very essence of socialist planning is the conscious determination
and maintenance of the necessary proportions in the development of
the economy and society as a whole. Its main objectives are concern for
mankind, meeting the ever-growing material and moral needs of the
people, and development of every aspect of the personality. Planning
does not mean keeping proportionality in general. Its aim is to develop
socialist relations in accordance with the objective economic laws and
utilize the advantages of public ownership to the good of all members
of society. In this connection, the scientific level of planning is con-
stantly increasing. Scientific planning is linked to the use of all available
information and modern technology in order to process data in the
shortest time possible.
In practice planning is carried out in strictly consistent stages. At
each stage, the basic planning documents are worked out. Some of these
documents concern different types of plans, e.g. long-term plans, five-
year plans and current plans. Others cover the developments preceding
the working out of plans, the pre-planning developments. They serve
as a means of scientific planning and also as a means to its improvement.
On the national level, economic and social planning is carried out in
the context of the national economic plan. It comprises indices of
production forces, development in general and in various branches, the
growth of the total national product and national income. The social
side of planning covers both the processes of production spheres and
non-production spheres, e.g. health, education, science, culture, living
standards. The indices of the national economic plan (recently called
"a plan for social and economic development") reveal the interests of
102
the diiferent social groups, and the interests of the working class in
particular.
Central definition of the main planning objectives is combined with
the wide powers and rights of the local government bodies and economic
units, as well as those of the working groups, in choosing the ways and
means of effectively attaining these objectives; in the search for re-
sources for implementing the plans, in the rational use of materials and
working resources.
Care for mankind is the basic concern of the communist parties and
workers' parties in the sociahst countries of Eastern Europe. They form
their policies wholly on that ground. "All in favour of man and for the
welfare of man!" is the leading slogan for social reconstruction and
organization.
The main interests of the visually handicapped in the socialist
countries of Eastern Europe are revealed in the state policies of these
countries and are accomplished by planning on national level. This
covers care for pre-school blind children, education of the visually
impaired, prevention of blindness, medical treatment, social security, etc.
Primary education (eight classes) in these countries is free and com-
pulsory. Usually it is carried out in speciahzed residential state schools.
Many of the specialized schools have classes for pre-school children,
too. There is a tendency to continue education in secondary schools.
In the Soviet Union, secondary school education is compulsory. The
number of blind university students is constantly growing.
Health control is a very essential part of state policy. Medical care is
free and accessible to all. There is a wide choice of establishments for
treatment and prophylaxy at different levels, with ophthalmological
departments. Periodical clinical examination and treatment of patients
with eye diseases is practised, as is prophylaxy which leads to a decrease
in the percentage of blindness.
The visually handicapped in the European socialist countries have
good disablement remuneration and retirement pensions, guaranteed
by the law. Some of the countries have introduced social pensions for
the blind who are not entitled to another type of pension, while in other
countries such blind people receive social aids. In all countries the
visually impaired population is privileged in relation to state taxes.
They do not pay many of the state taxes and are entitled to free trans-
portation in their place of residence. They pay only part, and sometimes
nothing, of the prices of tickets for state transport.
Social integration of the members of society is an important part of
state policy in Eastern European countries, and that implies providing
favourable conditions for social integration of the visually handicapped,
as well. Depending on the specific conditions and circumstances of each
country, there are different ways of solving the problems of blind
people. It is very important, however, that in some countries the
problem of employment has already been solved and that in others it
is on the way to a complete solution for all visually impaired people
who can and want to work. As a rule, visually impaired workers have a
shorter working day and longer paid annual leave.
103
The organizations of the bhnd in the sociahst countries are actively
engaged in the formulation and implementation of state policy related
to care for the visually handicapped. They work in cooperation with
state and public institutions, which are concerned with blindness. By
organizing their specific work for the welfare of the blind, the organiza-
tions of the blind contribute to increasing and improving the efforts of
society to improving their lives. The activities of the organizations of
the bhnd can be described as follows :
— organizational work
— basic rehabilitation of the newly blind
— work with the parents of blind children
— supply of technical aids and instruction on how to use them
— providing braille literature and talking books
— organizing work for the visually handicapped
— developing sports and physical culture
— organizing culturalHfe
— financial support and other services.
As an illustration attention is drawn to the specific functions and
planning procedures of the Union of the Bhnd in Bulgaria. In 1976, at
the 1 1th Congress of the Bulgarian Communist Party, the role of social
organizations in Bulgaria was defined as follows: "In the stage of
building up developed sociahst society, the role and importance of
social organizations constantly increases, due to their social and
political character, which is an objective necessity and a main direction
of the development of socialist democracy." The Congress suggested
"more actively to encourage the social organizations and movements
to take over state functions in order to link their activity more closely
to the specific interests of the different classes and strata of population,
and to improve the whole political organization of our society."
The Union of the Blind in Bulgaria is a welfare organization of the
blind and visually impaired persons with less than 0.08 per cent of
visual acuity. It has about 7,500 members. Its work is recognized and
supported, therefore the Government allots to it the responsibility for
significant state projects, e.g. organization and management of the
sheltered industrial enterprises employing hundreds of visually im-
paired people. Also special Government texts state that a number of
certain products shall be produced only by the enterprises of the Union.
These enterprises produce oil and air filters for all kinds of internal
combustion engines, control panels for lifting machines, softv/are and
electrical materials, bottle caps, plastics, etc., representing over 58
million dollars per year. The greater part of production is carried out
in cooperation with state industrial enterprises.
A scientific construction centre of the Union works on the problems
of scientific organization of labour and production in the system of the
Union following the specific requirements of blind employment. It is
responsible for the construction and development of technical aids to
ease the work and life of visually impaired people.
Many visually handicapped individuals who do not continue their'
studies prefer to work in the sheltered industrial enterprises of the
104
Union, because the conditions there are most favourable: there is
modern production with adequate organization of labour and adapted
technology; a 35-hour working week of 5 working days; cheap and
tasty food at the canteens of each enterprise; and many other facilities
and services for the workers.
In the system of the Union about 2,500 visually handicapped indivi-
duals are employed; 2,400 of them work in the industrial enterprises.
About 350 visually impaired persons do intellectual work, are physio-
therapists, etc. Our opinion is that the problem of employing the
visually handicapped who can and want to work is already solved,
because the total number of visually handicapped below 50 years of age
does not exceed 3,000.
The profits of the economic activity are used to finance development
of the industrial enterprises and the whole activity of the Union.
Disposing of its own means, the Union is able to organize a large-scale
programme of production, social and cultural developments. It builds
production premises, hostels (715 beds), blocks of flats (for 312 families),
kindergartens, shops, clubs and big cultural homes with performance
halls, libraries, gymnasia, etc. In this way the Union of the Blind in
Bulgaria makes its contribution to the total construction of the country
and meets the living needs of its members. The enterprises provide free
transportation of the workers from their homes to the enterprise and
back.
The Union disposes of four holiday houses, which accommodate
about 4,000 union members and their families for holidays each year.
About 700-800 union members are accommodated in sanatoria annually.
The Union has a centre for basic rehabihtation of the newly blind.
The training course lasts 5 months and is free of charge.
Much attention is paid to meeting the cultural needs of visually
handicapped people. There are cultural and educational centres which
organize various courses, lectures and other activities. Artistic activity
is very popular among the visually handicapped. There are folklore
groups, orchestras, dancing groups, choirs, theatrical troupes, etc., all
composed of amateurs. The Union has a choir of 60 professional
singers.
There is a braille printing house, which issues five braille magazines,
publishes all material used in the schools for visually impaired children
and other basic books in braille.
The talking book service of the Union provides all kinds of literature
on tape and cassette. There are libraries all over the country supplying
visually handicapped people with braille books and talking books. In
places where there are no libraries, the mail service is used. The total
braille stock of the Union is over 10,000 units with 1,200 titles. The
talking book stock is about 2,800 titles. The annual output of the
talking book studio is about 200 books and two magazines.
The Union of the Blind in Bulgaria has organized the supply of tape
recorders, cassette-players, braille typewriters and other technical aids
at half price. It provides financial help to some of its members, when in
need; organizes and supports holidays for visually impaired children;
employs sighted help for blind intellectuals.
105
The whole activity of the Union of the Blind in Bulgaria is subject to
planning. The basic planning document is the five-year plan, which is
approved by the General Assembly of the Union. It is divided into
annual plans revealing the social and economic development of the
Union, as well as its main objectives. There are separate annual pro-
grammes for technical development, sport activity, international
contacts, etc.
The preparation of these documents takes several months, during
which period there are investigations, analyses and meetings at the
primary organizations and enterprises. In the process of working out
the plans, both working people and planning authorities are consulted,
and cooperating industrial enterprises and trade organizations are
contacted. This coordinating work aims at guaranteeing real planning,
scientifically based and related to the resources needed. The annual
plans are approved by the General Assembly of the Central Council of
the Union. The Board of the Union takes the responsibility of con-
trolling periodically the implementation of the plans.
Similar planning practice is followed in the other organizations of the
blind in Eastern Europe. The experience of our organizations leads us
to make the following recommendations to all organizations of the
blind and for the blind —
Recognizing that planning is a basic method of management, the
social organizations of and for the blind should act to convince their
governments to include the problems of the blind in the national
development programmes for their complete solution; and should
organize planning of their specific activity on a scientific basis.
106
PLANNING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF DEVELOPMENT
by Miss J. S. Attah
Director of Higher Education in Nigeria
During the pre-independent era in Nigeria, the voluntary agencies
were solely responsible for the education of the young handicapped
children. The earhest attempt at providing meaningful education for
the group of children dates back to 1948 when some voluntary, chari-
table and philanthropic organizations established a few centres,
notably for the blind and deaf. Later on, homes for the severely
physically handicapped or the mentally retarded children were estab-
lished so as to provide home and care for the children. At this time.
Government was only marginally involved in the education of the
handicapped children being mainly confined to providing occasional
grants-in-aid to the voluntary organization.
2. With the constitutional developments of the 1950s, education
received greater governmental attention and Special Education was
not left out. At the regional and local levels, in particular, govern-
mental agencies (Education, Health and Social Welfare) gradually
became more involved in the education of the handicapped — more
funds were disbursed for that purpose and the supervision of the
institutions for the handicapped was regularized. In the 1960s, the
National Advisory Council for the Blind actively promoted the educa-
tion and welfare of the visually handicapped children and adults.
Through the Council's advice, a number of vocational and farm centres
were set up throughout the Federation for the sole purpose of re-
habilitating the visually handicapped.
3. However, purposeful planning for the education of the handicapped
by the Federal and the State governments started with the Second
National Development Plan 1970-74. During this period, the govern-
ment was determined to equalize educational opportunities for Nigerian
children. In addition to designing programmes to train and rehabilitate
the handicapped, the Federal Government planned to build four
national rehabilitation and training centres fully equipped with facilities
to train beggars and destitutes to become useful citizens. Two mobile
eye clinics were to be acquired to provide preventive measures aimed at
reducing the incidence of blindness in the country. And, to serve about
500 visually handicapped children attending primary, secondary and
teacher training institutions in the country, the Federal Government
approved the establishment of a Braille press.
4. In 1973, a separate unit was set up within the Teacher Training
Section of the Federal Ministry of Education mainly to coordinate the
various activities and programmes of the institutions that are set up to
107
cater for the handicapped. This was a major development. From that
time onwards, the planning for the education of the handicapped and
the monitoring of the activities of the several institutions in the field
became greatly improved. In 1974, for instance, there were twenty
institutions in the country for the visually, auditory and physically
handicapped, excluding, of course, the "Open Education Scheme"
operated by the Local Education Authorities in the former Northern
Region of Nigeria. By 1977, there were thirty institutions located in
twelve of the nineteen States of the Federation enrolling a total of 2,307
children at the primary school level. These institutions were made up
of eight for the blind enrolling 359; nine for the deaf enrolling 849 and
13 for the physically handicapped enrolling 1,099. To ensure that these
institutions were properly run and maintained, the Federal Government
between 1973 and 1975, gave a total sum of N500,000 to rehabihtate
the buildings of, and to purchase much needed equipment for the
special schools and the "Open Education Scheme". The money was
disbursed through the State Governments, thus keeping the State
Governments actively involved in the education of the handicapped.
5. In the Second National Development Plan, the government indicated
its intention to set up a Committee to examine the entire area of Special
Education. The Committee submitted its report in 1975 and the report
revealed that the major difficulty was the lack of expertise on the part
of educationists who are involved in initiating policies in the area of
Special Education. It was therefore suggested that the Special Education
Unit in the Federal Ministry of Education should issue guide lines to
assist the States in setting up their units and pay advisory visits fre-
quently when such units were being set up. States were to be encouraged
in training their headquarters staff in the areas of visual, auditory and
physically handicapped, so that these staff could in turn plan and
supervise institutions for the handicapped. To assist the State Govern-
ments in training their personnel, the Federal Government, in Fiscal
years 1975-76 and 1976-77, awarded a number of scholarships. In
1976-77 alone, under the Federal Special Education Scheme, a total of
73 teachers from the 19 states of the Federation were sponsored by the
Federal Government to study in Special Education institutions in the
United Kingdom, USA and Ghana. In addition, the Cambridge
Institute of Education, under a special arrangement has mounted a
special one-year course for special Education practitioners from some
of the States of the former Northern Region.
6. Another problem highlighted upon in the Survey Report was the
lack of teachers in the various areas of Special Education. The Report
showed that roughly 90 per cent of teachers and assistants in special
schools had no formal training for jobs that they were doing and that
what they had so far achieved was due to sheer dedication. This
challenge was faced squarely when preparing the third National
Development Plan. Under the Plan, the Federal Ministry of Education
commissioned a number of studies which culminated in the establish-
ment of the Federal Advanced Teachers' College, Ibadan in 1977. The
College was established specifically to provide the much needed special
108
teachers for the first two levels of education. In addition, funds were
made available to the University of Tbadan to establish a degree course
and to resuscitate its certificate course in Special Education. The
shorter course was established for primary school teachers with con-
siderable experience. At present, the University of Jos also has a
certificate course in Special Education and it has plans to establish a
degree programme.
Planning for Special Education: Special School Versus Integrated
System
7. In planning for Special Education, two basic approaches are fre-
quently mentioned; that is the provision of Special Schools or the
integration of Special Education programmes into the normal school
system. The merits and demerits of both approaches had been suffi-
ciently documented and it is not my intention in this paper to go into
the details of the debates. Suffice it to say that Nigeria accepts the
principle of integrating the education of the visually, auditory and
handicapped children into the country's educational system as early as
possible but it must be recognized that it is impossible at this time to
implement such a policy in its totality, especially at the primary level,
mainly because of lack of staff" and equipment. For the meantime,
while eff'orts will continue at integration, it is believed that it will be
more expedient to have boarding or day special schools for the three
major categories of handicapped children, so as to make the maximum
use of available trained teachers and resources at the primary level.
However, as soon as teachers are available in sufficient numbers, the
integrated system, first through units, to be followed by full integration
will be adopted, where feasible. The "open education scheme" through
which itinerant teachers visit integrated schools for visually handicapped
children offering expert help and advice will be fully used to advantage
at that time. At the post-primary level, visually, auditory and physically
handicapped children are being successfully integrated into secondary
schools, trade centres, technical colleges, teacher training colleges and
universities where they compete successfully with other children. At
this level of education, it is our experience, however, that on the whole
the visually handicapped children do better than children with other
disabihties. The number of handicapped students integrated into post-
primary institutions all over the country was recently put at 15,622.
The figures range from 2 to 21 in some states and 847 to 13,599 in
states which heve established Special Education programmes at the
primary level.
8. In planning for the Universal Primary Education Scheme, it was
accepted that the handicapped children have as much right to education
as others. The State Governments were then called upon to ascertain
the number of handicapped children who should be catered for under
the scheme. This was by no means an easy task since many parents were
reluctant to produce their children because of local taboos and super-
stitions. Yet, the importance of obtaining accurate and reliable statistics
109
cannot be over emphasized. Despite the difficulty, state officials suc-
ceeded in obtaining some date with which initial planning for special
Education was made.
9. Other Types of Special Schools in Existence
(a) Leprosarium Schools: These schools currently exist in only three
states of the Federation. The schools provide education for
children who are undergoing treatment at Leprosy centres so
that when the children are eventually discharged, they can fit
into the ordinary schools with their age groups. Because of this
important responsibility, more of these schools are needed
especially in those states which have none at the present time.
(b) The Cheshire Homes: There are five of these in the country.
The main function of these homes is to provide a substitute
"home" for the physically handicapped children and adults
whose parents and relations have difficulty in coping with their
conditions or who have been rejected and abandoned by their
families. Some of the homes make adequate provisions to ensure
that the children attend the ordinary primary schools within easy
reach of the homes. Under the UPE, there are plans to provide
classrooms on the premises of some of the homes.
(c) Hospital Schools: The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital School in
Lagos which is the only one of its type in the country, is
organized to provide educational facilities for children who have
to remain in hospital for long periods. The Teaching Hospital in
Ibadan provides lessons for children admitted at the hospital
for periods exceeding two weeks. This is an aspect of special
education which requires urgent attention. School children
admitted for periods of over six weeks due to various health
conditions, require some well organized teaching so as to bridge
the gap between hospitalization and return to school.
(d) Remand Homes and Approved Schools: These are currently under
the State Ministries of Health and Social Welfare. Delinquent or
maladjusted children whose behaviour constitutes a threat to
other children or to society, are sent into these institutions for
periods ranging from three months to one year. A large per-
centage of these children have already been to school and they
require educational programmes for the duration of their stay.
At present, formal education which is being provided in these
institutions is inadequate in most of them and so children who
had been at school have to repeat classes after their discharge.
Some of these schools provide facilities for pre-school handi-
capped children but these are very few to meet the demands at
this level of education.
10. Supportive Services
In planning and executing Special Education programmes, the co-
operation of the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare is indispensable.
110
Children who need special attention ought to be examined and regis-
tered early before they are due to start formal education. Thereafter,
other agencies would provide follow up services after formal education,
including those that would need vocational training or rehabilitation.
At present, there are only two Child Guidance Clinics (at Lagos and
Tbadan University Hospitals) that offer services on assessemnt of thera-
peutic and remedial facilities for the handicapped children.
In most cases identification of handicaps is by rule of thumb. The
registration of handicapped children for admission into special and
ordinary primary schools under the UPE Scheme seems to be the only
authentic estimation of the number of school-age handicapped children.
The figures returned by 15 out of the 19 states showed a total of 10,507
handicapped children and youths aged between 6 years and 18 years.
Of these, 8,439 are aged between 6 and 12 years. At least one such
clinic should be set up in each state. Even if funds are available to set
up these clinics immediately, the problem of securing trained personnel
for them will remain.
1 1 . Special Equipment and Books
Another problematic area in special education planning is the
provision of equipment. Special equipment is expensive to obtain and
even more expensive to maintain. In countries that have limited funds
for general education, even less funds are available to service special
education. Much of the equipment is purchased from the industrialized
countries and it is the experience of developing countries that promises
of after-sale services are not often honoured. There is therefore every-
where expensive equipment that is in disrepair simply because there is
limited technical knowhow. It is therefore necessary that technician
training in developing countries should take cognisance of this important
area. Also developing countries should make special eflTorts to establish
their own presses and audiovisual aids production units for text books
and less sophisticated items in order to reduce some of the overhead
costs. Through the kind cooperation of the Royal Society for the
Blind, Nigeria is able to purchase equipment and materials at very
reasonable costs.
12. Future Trends
As can be seen from the foregoing, special education in Nigeria is
still in its embryonic stage. However, a good beginning has been made
in what we consider to be along the right direction. In future, we shall
be guided by the provisions on special education as enunciated in the
new National Policy on Education adopted in 1977. Along with the
Universal Free Primary Education Scheme (UPE) launched in Sep-
tember 1976, these two schemes constitute the major milestone in the
education of handicapped children in Nigeria. The implication of the
UPE for Special Education is that for the first time in the history of
educational planning in Nigeria, the Federal Government, in co-
operation with the State Governments, is committed to providing
educational facilities for handicapped children of all categories. Future
111
development in the area of Special Education will be guided by the aims
and objectives as spelt out in Section 8 of the National Policy on
Education thus:
(a) to give concrete meaning to the idea of equalizing educational
opportunities for all children, their physical, mental, emotional
disabilities notwithstanding;
(b) to provide adequate education for all handicapped children and
adults in order that they may fully play their roles in the develop-
ment of the nation ;
(c) to provide opportunities for exceptionally gifted children to
develop at their own pace in the interest of the nation's economic
and technological development.
To realize these aims and objectives, the following steps, among these
have been agreed upon :
(a) Gradual expansion of the Federal Advanced Teachers' College
for Special Education estabhshed in 1977 would have an output
of 500 students by 1980.
(b) Inclusion of some aspects of Special Education in the course
content of all teacher training colleges. This would make it
possible for all trained teachers to possess some basic know-
ledge of Special Education to enable them to identify and assist
the handicapped children who are enrolled in normal primary
schools.
(c) A committee to coordinate Special Education activities would
be set up by the Federal Ministry of Education in collaboration
with the Ministries of Health, Social Welfare and Labour.
(d) Universities would receive goverimient funds to develop depart-
ments of Special Education and to organize in-service training
courses in Special Education.
(e) Accurate census of all handicapped children and adults by age,
by sex, by locality and by type.
(f ) In consultation with appropriate bodies. Ministries of Education
would provide Special programmes for gifted children, but these
would be within the normal educational set-up.
(g) A National Council on Special Education would be set up and
its composition would reflect the collective responsibility of the
Ministry of Education, Labour, Health and Social Welfare in the
provision of facilities for the care and education of handicapped
children.
(h) Children's clinics would be attached to hospitals for early
identification of handicapped children, and for curative measures
and medical care before and after they reach the age for primary
education.
In conclusion, the new National Policy on Education emphasizes the
Government's belief that education for the handicapped is not a kind
112
of contribution to charity, and that our national aim is to develop
every Nigerian to his highest ability. When the policy is fully im-
plemented, Nigeria will take its rightful place among the nations of the
world, providing adequate and meaningful educational programmes
for her handicapped population.
113
PROFESSIONAL COOPERATION
THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WORKERS
FOR THE BLIND
by Jerry Dunlap, President, AAWB
An invitation to present a paper at a meeting of the World Council
for the Welfare of the Bhnd is an exciting, humbling, and a challenging
experience. Preparation of this article has provided an opportunity to
explore some fascinating history and numerous occasions to discuss
contemporary issues with professional colleagues. The writing has been
a rewarding experience personally, and it is hoped that the follov/ing
discussion will provide greater insight into the activities and purposes
of the American Association of Workers for the Bhnd.
Founded in 1895, AAEB is a membership organization for agencies
and professional workers in the blindness system, plus interested
individuals throughout the Americas. Traditionally, the Association has
provided leadership on social and legislative actions and forcefully
spoken out on issues confronting the blind. Today, AAWB conducts
seminars and workshops at local, regional and national levels to co-
ordinate and stimulate agencies and workers for the blind for enhance-
ment of professional skills, services and standards. Its constitution
states : "The purpose of the American Association of Workers for the
Blind shall be to render all possible assistance in the promotion,
development and improvement of services to blind persons in the
Americas and the insular possessions of the United States . . ." (1) In
the following pages, an effort will be made to depict how the Association
continues to fulfil that purpose.
Prior to consideration of AAWB's role in promoting cooperation
among the various disciplines serving the blind, it would seem germane
to briefly explore the state of the art in work for the blind in the United
States. A thorough exploration of the vast and complex service delivery
system for the blind in this country is beyond the scope of this paper.
However, to understand the necessity for and the difficulty of co-
ordinating professional activities, it should be reahzed that there are
hundreds of agencies and thousands of professional staff in the blindness
system. Professional activities in this field evolved from scattered private
philanthropies of the early nineteenth century, but only gained momen-
tum in the past sixty years. Perhaps the unique feature of the system in
the United States is the ongoing partnership between the philanthropic
voluntary programmes and the ever increasing tax supported services.
Today, the lives of virtually all blind persons are affected by a vast
array of services emanating from a variety of programmes adminis-
tered by hundreds of voluntary agencies and many govermnental
agencies; e.g. Veterans Administration; Office of Education, Bureau
for Education of the Handicapped; Health, Education, and Welfare;
114
Rehabilitation Services Administration, Office for the Blind and
Visually Handicapped; Social Security Administration; Library of
Congress, Division for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; and
American Printing House for the Blind. This listing does not include
every federal agency providing services to blind individuals, and in
addition there are state and local tax supported services; however,
unlike many nations in the v^orld, the United States has more private
voluntary agencies in the blindness system than it has pubhc
programmes.
This large number of agencies, both public and private, provide the
full gamut of services ranging from genetic counselling and infant
stimulation to research projects for the geriatric blind. There are
programmes which conduct research to determine the needs of blind
persons, other programmes which attempt to serve those needs, and
still other programmes which evaluate the degree of success that
services have met needs. Despite this apparent plethora of agencies and
services, there exist blind individuals with unmet needs, and segments of
the blind population who are underserved in this nation. Undoubtedly,
a challenge remains to improve and expand the service delivery system
in this country.
The complex and sometimes confusing service programmes for the
blind did not just happen. These services grew out of demonstrated
needs and the efforts of many persons to meet those needs.
Organized service programmes for the blind can be traced to the
pioneering efforts of Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, who founded the
Perkins School in the 1830's. The same decade saw the development of
two other residential schools, New York Institute in New York City
and the Overbrook School in Philadelphia. These early schools, begun
as private philanthropic projects by visionary leaders, not only demons-
trated the fact that blind children could be educated, but moreover,
proved the need for residential schools and other educational pro-
grammes for blind children across the country. These early model
programmes stimulated public support and, today, there is federal
legislation mandating the education of all handicapped children,
including the blind, in the least restrictive environment.
Following his success in establishing a school for blind children,
Samuel Gridley Howe turned his energy to ameliorating the employ-
ment problem faced by blind adults. He began the first workshop for
the blind in Boston in 1840, and several others followed. These early
shops developed as "working homes" and, as early as 1849, Dr. Howe
became concerned about the segregating nature of such a facility. (2)
This initial effort, begun as a demonstration project, did prove that
blind people could be productive; however, it fell short of placing
blind persons into competitive employment.
Samuel Howe joined other educators in 1879 to obtain passage of the
first federal legislation specifically benefitting the blind. This legis-
lation, entitled "An Act to Promote the Education of the Bhnd",
provided ten thousand dollars of federal funds for the provision of books
and educational materials for blind children. The act represented one
115
additional achievement, i.e. for the first time commitment of federal
tax revenue to provide direct services to blind persons.
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, work for the blind had
progressed; however, opportunities for advanced education and com-
petitive employment outside of workshops were quite limited. In an
effort to solve these problems, a group of concerned persons met at
St. Louis, Missouri, in 1885. and formed the forerunner of AAWB.
This early organization, known as the American Blind Peoples Higher
Education and General Improvement Association, met to consider
methods whereby the blind might improve their opportunities for
advancement in society.
The prime objective of this early association was to develop means
for blind persons to gain entrance into programmes of higher education.
In his history of AAWB, Dr. Norman Yoder describes four approaches
considered by the association :
"1. A specialized college to serve the blind
2. Governmental scholarships for the blind
3. Non-segregating admission to existing institutions of higher
learning
4. The annex theory, which was a combination of the first two
suggestions; namely, that scholarships be provided and a
segregated unit be established in an existing college or university
specifically designed to meet the needs of the blind." (3)
Within its first decade, the American Blind Peoples Higher Education
and General Improvement Association had been renamed the American
Association of Workers for the Blind, and had appointed major com-
mittees on higher education; federal pensions; uniform system of
embossed type; and prevention of blindness, this committee later to
become the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness. Therefore,
in something over ten years, the rules in the foundation of AAWB were
laid — "a concern for the problems of people, with the further thought
of arriving at a solution to those problems through study, research,
and an awareness that some of these solutions could be accomphshed
only through positive and constructive legislative action." (3)
By the turn of the century, residential schools were widespread;
workshops and working homes were increasing and at least one state,
Connecticut, had established a Commission for the Blind. Other states
soon followed Connecticut's lead and work for the blind entered the
twentieth century with schools, workshops and Commissions for the
BHnd in most states. The foundations had been laid for many of the
large multi-service voluntary agencies that exist today, and at least the
embryonic stage had been reached in achieving tax supported service
programmes for the blind.
AAWB continued to grow in its scope of interest with each biennial
meeting. By 1915, the Association conducted a joint meeting with the
American Association of Instructors for the Blind, and continued work
on standardizing embossed type. At this conference, a proposal was
made to establish a National Industries for the Blind. This programme
116
was modelled on its English counterpart, and over the years workshops
cooperating with NIB would be responsible for the employment of
thousands of blind persons.
In the 1917 convention, AAWB established a legislative committee
which began a strong campaign to influence legislation on behalf of the
blind. No doubt these efforts were given impetus by the plight of the
war blind. Congress reacted by establishing a rehabilitation programme
for disabled veterans. This programme was followed by enactment of a
rehabilitation programme for civilians in 1920 known as the Smith Fess
Act. This act provided $750,000 for the initial federal appropriation for
1921 with each state sharing dollar for dollar in the cost of rehabilita-
tion. The matching ratio today is four federal dollars for each state
dollar, and the federal appropriation is more than a thousand-fold the
1921 figure.
Perhaps one of AAWB's greatest achievements was initiated the
following year under the presidency of H. Randolph Latimer. At its
biennial convention of 1921, the entire conference was devoted to
describing the need for a national clearing house for information on
blindness, an organization that could conduct research, and also serve
as a national public information programme. The convention unani-
mously adopted the resolution to establish the American Foundation
for the Blind, and H. Randolph Latimer became the Foundation's first
executive director. (4)
In the next few years, AAWB concluded negotiations with the British
Type Committee and, with the concurrence of AAIB, STANDARD
ENGLISH BRAILLE, GRADES I and II was adopted. During these
years, AAWB relied heavily on progressive ideas from its Canadian
members, and many of the innovations introduced in the work for the
bhnd in the United States originated in Canada. A Committee on Ethics
was established, and AA.WB recognized that it must have a firm code
of ethics. This appears to be the first effort by the Association to
establish standards to upgrade professionals in work for the blind.
In the mid 30's the interest group concept was adopted and became
the basis for today's organizational structure. The Association con-
tinued its legislative involvement with positive results. No decade in
history has provided more legislative benefits to the blind than the
1930's. Four major pieces of legislation were passed that impacted the
lives of most blind persons in the United States. These included passage
of the Pratt-Smoot Act in 1931 which established in the Library of
Congress the programme through which blind persons can borrow,
without cost, an ever-increasing number of braille and recorded books ;
the Social Security Act in 1935 which for the first time committed the
federal government to participate in the financial support of blind and
other disabled persons; the Randolph-Sheppard Act in 1936 which
demonstrated the government's conviction that blind persons could
successfully manage vending facilities on federal locations; and the
Wagner-O'Day Act of 1938 which gave preference to workshops
employing blind persons in purchases made by the government. (5)
At its 1941 convention, AAWB accepted a set of standards for the
certification of home teachers. A similar certification procedure and
117
code of ethics would be adopted for the orientation and mobihty
speciaHsts in 1968. In the early years of World War II, leaders of
AAWB, along with other organizations, pressed for expansion of
rehabilitation services. This resulted in the passage of the 1943 Barden-
LaFollette Act, Public Law 113. This act provided federal vocational
rehabilitation funds for the first time to State Commissions for the
Blind, and permitted the purchase of services from local agencies.
Undoubtedly, this legislation provided the potential for developing
good cooperative working relationships between the public and private
sectors. That is to say, this Act expanded the state's ability to purchase
services for clients, and left to the discretion of the individual states
whether to directly provide these services or to purchase them from
voluntary organizations. There is no doubt that this shift of the major
support of private programmes from philanthropic to public means
gave states the right to suggest changes in certain aspects of voluntary
programmes. However, the strong financial support by the public
agencies and the demonstrated flexibility of voluntary programmes
provided a very favourable climate for the development of sound
cooperative working relationships. (6)
Subsequent to World War II, AAWB continued its efforts to upgrade
the level of professionality among workers for the blind through
seminars and workshops on the evolving rehabilitation centre move-
ment and the new areas of employment being developed by advances
in technology. Also, AAWB actively sought governmental support of
university based professional training programmes in the areas of social
service, orientation and mobility specialists, rehabilitation teachers,
rehabilitation counsellors, and placement specialists for the blind.
These programmes were developed at many universities across the
country and greatly contributed to the level of professionality of
personnel entering the field of work for the blind.
The 1955 conference addressed itself at length to a long-range
planning document for the Association. This document is still the basis
for much of the organization's current programme. The regionalization
concept described in the long-range plan was implemented in the 60's
and today has resulted in thirty-one chapters in six regions with a
membership of over 3,500.
Another item from the past that merits brief mention is the Seal of
Good Practice. Historically, AAWB expressed concern regarding
ethical practices of fund raising and delivery of quality services by
agencies for the blind. A code of ethics was established and a com-
mittee appointed to screen applicant agencies for this Seal of Good
Practice. It cannot be claimed that this early effort in accreditation was
an overwhelming success ; however, it did serve as a forerunner for the
Commission on Standards and Accreditation of Services for the Blind.
This commission (COMSTAC) eventually resulted in the formation of
the National Accred'tation Council. Today, AAWC is a sponsoring
member of NAC.
AAWB, along v/ith other organizations of and for the blind, has
actively promoted the passage of a number of amendments to the
original Rehabilitation Act. Perhaps the most significant changes were
118
made in the 1973 Rehabilitation Act with its 1974 Amendments. AAWB
and all other organizations of and for the blind can justifiably be proud
of their role in passage of this law.
In addition to measurably strengthening the vending facility pro-
gramme for the blind, the law provides disabled persons including the
blind the right of access to training and employment through removal
or modification of architectural and attitudinal barriers. The individual's
right to fully participate in planning his programme of services is
mandated. These affirmative action and consumer's rights provisions of
the law represent some of the most forward-thinking legislation in the
history of rehabilitation services.
In 1974, AAWB Board of Directors accepted a report from the
Regionalization Committee which recommended in part that the
association encourage an interdisciplinary approach to problems of
services to blind persons through the maximum use of knowledge and
skills of all related professions. (7) It was recommended that a directory
of allied service agencies including services for the blind be developed
and distributed to AAWB members. The report further recommended
that AAWB assist in the development of professional services to blind
persons. Several methods for implementation were suggested including
sponsorship of inservice training institutes or seminars. In addition, it
was recommended that agencies conducting inservice training seminars
should assure that programme content is inclusive of all interest group
areas encompassed by AAWB. Another recommendation was that
AAWB incorporate workshops at national level conferences. This latter
recommendation has been implemented in the last three national
biennial conferences.
Time does not permit a complete account of the history of AAWB.
Suffice it to say, it has continued to be in the forefront of social and
legislative changes that afi'ected the lives of bhnd persons. Also, the
association has continued its efforts toward enhancing professionality
among workers and coordination of their activities toward the best
interests of those individuals being served. There are certain structural
characteristics and activities of AAWB that have a direct bearing on
professional development and coordination of various disciplines in-
volved in work for the blind. The following sections will briefly describe
some of these areas of activity.
A recent effort of the Board of Directors to promote professional
development in the field of work for the blind was the establishment of
the Douglas C. MacFarland Memorial Fund in memory of a great
leader. Dr. Douglas C. MacFarland twice served AAWB as president
and gave unstintingly to improve the quality of life of blind persons
around the world. The purpose of the fund is to provide a financial base
for encouraging educational programmes for career development.
Eventually it may be possible to also assist with the expense of bringing
outstanding leaders in the field of blindness to regional and local
AAWB meetings.
The fact that AAWB is structured in interest groups facilitates pro-
fessional cooperation and stimulates programmes for professional
growth. Members have the option of joining one of the existing 14
119
interest groups or forming a new interest group. The constitution
provides that fifty members in good standing may petition the Board of
Directors for the right to initiate a new interest group. These interest
groups represent virtually every speciality in the field of blindness and
meet concurrent with each biennial convention. Interest group repre-
sentatives are involved in programme planning for national, regional,
and local conferences; and individual interest groups sponsor work-
shops and seminars in conjunction with AAWB meetings. In addition to
the opportunity for professional growth from these interest group
seminars, participants are enabled to obtain university credits that can
be applied toward maintenance of professional certificates. Perhaps the
interest group concept is AAWB's single greatest contribution toward
professional development and cooperation of the various disciplines
involved in serving the blind in Amerca.
One other means of improving cooperation among the various dis-
ciplines and enhancing the knowledge and skills of the individual
professional is to keep each member abreast on current events. Toward
this end, AAWB produces a quarterly newsletter that describes organiza-
tional activities and alerts members to national issues. Also, since 1927,
convention proceedings have been published and made available to
each member. An AAWB annual, "BHndness", has been published
since 1964 which provides a forum wherein leading exponents can
discuss various facets of work for the blind. "Blindness" is also made
available in braille and recorded form by the Library of Congress and
distributed nationwide through Regional Libraries for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. Members share some publications from the
American Foundation for the Blind and are entitled to a discounted
subscription to the Journal of Blindness and Visual Impairment.
The practice of certifying competency of a professional against a set
of standards developed by peers is a most effective means of assuring
quality service delivery to prospective clients. For many years Re-
habilitation Teachers, Interest Group II in AAWB, have followed this
practice. Orientation and Mobility Specialists, Interest Group 9,
developed parallel standards for certification in 1968; and five years
later. Interest Group 9 adopted a code of ethics for practitioners in
peripatology. The implementation of a process of certifying competency
in these disciplines represents a strong contribution toward the develop-
ment of professional personnel. Certification not only serves the
individual professional but provides assurance to the employing agency
and protection to the general public. The results of these programmes
have been quite positive and AAWB is presently studying the feasibility
of three additional areas for certification, i.e. administrators, vocational
counsellors, and low vision specialists.
The most effective means of fostering professional development is to
stimulate interaction and communication. This is best achieved through
direct dialogue at local, regional, and national level conferences. Since
its inception, AAWB has come together as a body in conventions to
discuss issues, to resolve differences, to learn new concepts, and to
spearhead new frontiers of service. Perhaps the single most valuable
120
return on AAWB membership is the opportunity to attend its con-
ventions, to hear presentations from international leaders in the field
and to exchange viewpoints with colleagues from all across the United
States and Canada. Each chapter affiliate conducts an annual meeting,
and national and regional conferences are on alternate bienniums. This
provides at least two opportunities each year for members to participate
in a planned programme of information on current activities in work
for the blind.
AAWB is concerned with professional cooperation on yet another
level ; that is, furthering joint activities with its counterpart in educauon,
the Association for Education of the Visually Handicapped. The
advantage of close cooperation of these two associations has long been
recognized. In 1913, AAWB appointed a committee to ddvelop a joint
meeting with AEVH's predecessor, the American Association of
Instructors for the Blind. The joint meeting was successfully held in
1915, and a second joint conference of the two organizations was con-
ducted in 1952. Subsequently the two organizations have joined forces
on numerous projects including sponsorship with the National Braille
Association of the Braille Authority of North America. (In 1976
sponsorship of the Braille Authority was extended to nine additional
organizations of and for the blind which provides a more adequate
financial base for this important activity.) The two associations have a
standing joint committee on orientation and mobility certification and
continue to work toward improved cooperative eff'orts in critical areas
of service. At present, planning is under way for joint meetings at the
Helen Keller Congress scheduled for June 1980. The president of each
association has appointed representatives to a committee that is charged
with the task of exploring ways and means of achieving an even closer
working relationship that may eventually lead to a coalition. Un-
doubtedly, two organizations possessing so many parallel interests and
common objectives will find it mutually beneficial to cooperate even
more closely in the future which can only strengthen their impact on
work for the blind.
In the preceding pages, there has been an attempt to give a brief
picture of the service delivery system for the blind in America, and how
this system of public and voluntary services welded into a working
partnership. AAWB's participation in the development of professional
services and standards was briefly reviewed. In addition, there has been
an effort to delineate how professional cooperation is the work of
AAWB. Cooperation has been achieved in many ways; however,
perhaps the most effective and lasting means of achieving cooperation
has been focusing the strength, talent, and dedication of many disci-
phnes on the target of improving the lives of blind persons throughout
this nation.
In conclusion, it can safely be said that professional cooperation is
not only the work of AAWB but, moreover, without the cooperation
of myriad professionals there would literally not be an American
Association of Workers for the Blind.
121
References
(1) Article II, Constitutions and By-Laws of AA WB, Inc. As amended July 23, 1975.
(2) KOHN, Joseph. "The Development of the Service Delivery System for Blind
People", Blindness, AAWB Annual 1973.
(3) YODER, Norman M., Ph.D. "AAWB 1895-1964", Blindness, AAWB Annual
1964.
(4) KOESTLER, Frances A. The Unseen Minority: A Social History of Blindness
in America, David McKay Company, 1976.
(5) RIVES, Louis H., Jr. "The Story of a Law", Blindness, AAWB Annual 1966.
(6) "Public & Private Agencies". Services to the Blind: A Community Concern,
Prime Study Group III, Institute on Rehabilitation Services; HEW, 1973.
(7) RICHTERMAN, Harold, Chairman. Report of Regionalization Committee to
AAWB, Inc., October 1974.
122
THE WORK OF THE LATIN AMERICAN ORGANIZATION FOR
THE PROMOTION OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
by Hernando Pradilla Cobos, Vice-President
Introduction
Mr. President, Officers, Delegates, Observers, Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of the Board of the Latin American Organization for the
Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired I am going to tell you
about something new which has occurred in Latin America during this
period of five years, but that has its roots in the past. It is about the
Organization we have built up for the promotion of the visually handi-
capped, and in which all the resources in the field are joined to really
make a great eff'ort towards the improvement of the condition of those
who do not see as others do. It is a long story. However, I am going to
summarize as much as possible to give you a clear idea of what we
have done.
A Look at the Past
In different gatherings previous to 1971, Latin American profes-
sionals in the field suggested forming an association of workers for the
bhnd, during private conversations and meetings. In 1971, in Bogota,
during the Constitutive Assembly of the Ibero-American Association
of Printing Presses for the Visually Deficient, and at the educational
conference, sponsored by the American Foundation for Overseas Blind,
now Helen Keller International, a special commission was set up to
prepare the draft project for organizing the association. However,
nothing came of it. Later on, other meetings were held with different
purposes and we continued talking about what we had in mind. During
the Fifth General Assembly of WCWB, the idea again came to mind,
and a meeting was held in Sao Paulo to discuss it. Structure, objectives,
etc. were discussed, but once more nothing was settled. However, during
the second congress of the International Rehabilitation Medicine
Association, thanks to a very good idea of Mr. Roy Rusk, Director of
Rehabihtation at Helen Keller International, a session on the visually
handicapped was held and there was a meeting to discuss the creation
of the Latin American Committee for Services to the Blind and Visually
Deficient. Mr. Roy Rusk, Miss Crespo, Mrs. de Stahl, Dr. Hernandez,
Mr. Lorenzo Navarro and myself participated, among others. Meetings
with Dr. Smith were also held to prepare the study group meeting for
the coming year in Washington. In February 1975 the first study group
on Rehabilitation Services and Programmes for Training Personnel for
Visually Impaired Persons in Latin America was held in Washington
under the sponsorship of WHO, PAHO and HKI, in which Dr. Smith
Mrs. Ehsa de Stahl, Miss Susana Crespo, Mrs. Blanca de Garcia, Miss
Jurema Venturini, Dr. Gustavo Hernandez, Dr. Richard Hoover and
123
myself took part. Recommendations to Latin American countries on
rehabilitation of the blind and visually deficient were made, and the
newly created Latin American Committee for Services to the Blind and
Visually Deficient was approved.
During September 1975, under the sponsorship of HKI and INCI, a
conference to create the specialized commissions of the Committee was
held in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Then an interim Executive Committee
was held with the presidents of the six new commissions, at which rules
and regulations were drafted. It really was a new departure for services
to the blind and visually impaired in the region. Many of the most
prominent workers for the blind in Latin America attended and Mr.
Harold Roberts, Mr. Roy Rusk, Drs. Roy Kumpe, Richard Hoover,
Hindley Smith and others were also present.
The interim Executive Committee of the Latin American Committee
for Services to the Blind and Visually Deficient, sponsored by HKI and
the Guatemalan Committee for the Blind and Deaf, met the following
year in Guatemala to study the organization of the new entity and to
draft its statutes and regulations.
Mrs. Elisa de Stahl (President), Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill (Vice-
President), Dr. Gustavo Hernandez, Mr. Herman Saavedra, Mrs.
Blanca de Garcia, Miss Susana Crespo and myself, attended the meeting.
Mr. Harold Roberts and Mr. Roy Rusk attended as representatives
of HKI.
In this last meeting the problem of the pluralism of organizations for
and of the blind in Latin America was brought into the picture. In
Bucaramanga something had also been said in this respect. The Latin
American Aff'airs Committee of WCWB, the ICEVH, ADEVIA, the
Panamerical Council of the Blind, and the new Latin American Com-
mittee for Services to the Blind and Visually Deficient were all too many
for offering good programmes and a good future to the visually
impaired.
During the Riyadh Executive Committee meeting, the officers of
WCWB, Mrs. de Stahl, Mrs. Nowill and I participated in a meeting to
study the problem, after the report of the chairman of the Latin
American Affairs Committee and of the President of the interim
Executive Committee of the Latin American Committee for Serv'ces to
the Blind and Visually Deficient. The meeting concluded that Mr. Eric
Boulter should represent the World Council at the forthcoming Sao
Paulo Congress and efforts should be made to coordinate the WCWB
Committee and the new organization and to create one single agency.
In October 1977 the first Latin American Congress of WCWB was
held in Sao Paulo, sponsored by WCWB, HKI, ONCE, Christoff'el
Bhndenmission and the Foundation for the Book of the Blind in Brazil.
This was a professional and administrative Congress in which some
400 professionals participated.
Professional sessions on rehabilitation, education, social, cultural
and psychological services, orientation and mobility, prevention of
blindness, were given. Meetings of the Latin American Affairs Com-
mittee, of the interim Executive Committee of the Latin American
Committee for Services to the Blind and Visually Deficient, joint
124
sessions of the two committees, conference of ADEVIA, reunions of
special commissions, and of the speciahzed permanent commissions
created in Bucaramanga followed, one after the other or celebrated
simultaneously, all of them programmed to plan for the future of the
visually limited of Latin America. Then the Latin American Organiza-
tion for the Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired (OLAP),
was created and completely structured.
The Statutes for OLAP, By-laws for the Latin American Affairs
Committee (Administrative Division) and for the Professional Division,
By-laws for the General Assembly of OLAP and for all the seven
specialized permanent commissions were revised and approved, and
plans were made for the coming five years.
Organization
I am not going to give here the whole information concerning this
matter, for it can be consulted in the annex of the Statutes of OLAP.
I want to point out, however, that we think this organization was the
best solution for the problems of duplication and pluralism of organiza-
tions for the blind and the visually impaired in the region.
The new OLAP is composed of two divisions, one Administrative,
the other Professional. The first is the Latin American Affairs Com-
mittee, the second is like an association of workers for the bhnd. This
last one is composed of seven specialized permanent commissions:
Social Work, Psychological Services, Orientation and Mobility,
Education, Rehabilitation, Prevention of Blindness, and Cultural.
Each one has its own By-laws and programs for operation. The two
divisions have their own Boards, which are responsible to the general
Board. Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill is the President, Mrs. Elisa de
Stahl is the Secretary General, I am the Vice-President and seven more
members participate in its decisions.
A Look to the Future
This Latin American Organization for the Promotion of the Blind
and the Visually Impaired is considered to be an organization for and
of the blind to work for the visually limited of the Latin America and
the Caribbean region. We expect it to encompass all the regional
associations or organizations for and of the blind or get into co-
ordination with them. OLAP will be the accreditation center for the
services for the visually limited of the region, and will serve as research
and consultation center in the diff"erent fields of interest of work for the
blind. We expect all the professionals to become members and off'er
their services without high economic demands, or without any, for the
betterment of this exceptional group in this area. OLAP will really be
what we needed for our countries, and for the integration of the region
to work jointly and challengingly for ourselves and for others.
Thank you very much for this wonderful occasion to tell you what
we have done, what we are going to do, and how you can help us to
help our visually limited population. If you help us to help ourselves to
help others, we will be aiding the millions of citizens of the region for
the future in America.
125
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 5
COOPERATION IN ACHIEVING INDEPENDENCE
Friday evening, August 3, 1979
Chairman : Dr. Helmut Pielasch
German Democratic Republic
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPORT ACTIVITIES
by Dr. Helmut Pielasch, Chairman
For some time now there has been a growing realization that physical
exercise and sport are important for the health and fitness of everyone.
With each passing decade, governments and voluntary organizations
pay greater attention to sport, successful athletes enjoy great respect
and have a strong influence on the public. Physical exercise and sport
play an important part in the curricula of all schools. The aim is not to
make every child and student able to participate in competitive sport,
but to awaken a need for regular physical exercise in each individual.
This desire is already widespread and it is supported by the authorities
and communities through provision of sport and leisure centres, indoor
swimming pools, special walking tours and camping grounds. And all
this is also, of course, available for the blind.
Regular sport activities help rehabilitation of blind persons and are
very valuable for health, the capacity for work and mobihty. They
become more confident in themselves. Even multi-handicapped blind
people can practise sport regularly and enjoy its stimulative effect.
In several countries it is now taken as a matter of course that bhnd
athletes exist and comprehensive experience has been gained in this
field. It was realized that international contacts were necessary to
further develop national sport for the blind. The Executive Committee
of the World Council discussed this question and at its meeting in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 1977 decided to form a Sports Committee.
Dr. Dr. Helmut Pielasch, GDR, was appointed Chairman.
So far the Committee has had three meetings: in December 1977 in
Berlin, GDR, in October 1978 in Philadelphia, USA, and in April 1979
in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. At each meeting the host organizations created
favourable conditions which did much to contribute to their success.
At the meetings, the given situation in sport was assessed in the
various regions, proposals were discussed to unify regulations and
cooperation with ISOD was prepared.
126
The work of the Committee is supported by three sub-committees.
These are:
1. Sub-Committee for light athletics, chaired by Jan Remplewicz,
Poland,
2. Sub-Committee for swimming and aquatic sports, chaired by Arthur
E. Copeland, USA,
3. Sub-Committee for winter and other sports, chaired by Arvo
Karvinen, Finland.
The Committee has set itself a number of tasks. The first is to
support the Regional Committees in forming sports commissions. At
present such sports commissions exist in the regions of Europe, Asia,
North America-Oceania and South America. The Committee then
prepared the International Symposium on Sport for the Blind to be
held from April 17 to 19, 1979 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. Experts spoke
about the close relations between sport for blind people and general
sport. They also discussed the role played by schools in developing a
need for regular sports activity. They made suggestions about com-
petition regulations for various types of sport already being practised
by the blind and proposed other types which have proved themselves
in the national field. It was agreed that blind people, too, have a whole
range of so far unused possibilities for doing competitive sport. At the
same time, multi-handicapped blind of all age groups, including older
blind people, can experience the benefit of sport. We are convinced that
sport for the blind in the various countries received much impetus
through this Symposium. Another of the Committee's tasks is the
propagation of sport. To this end, the Secretariat of the European
Regional Committee issued a special number of the "Review of the
European Blind" devoted entirely to questions of sport. The number
appeared in Autumn 1978 and thanks to a bigger edition, all organiza-
tions of and for the blind plus many governments were able to receive
it. The propagation of sport is closely linked with the popularization of
other types of sport and team games. And here it is necessary to use the
treasury of rich experience gathered in several countries.
Finally, the Committee discussed the necessity to standardize com-
petition regulations. Here it was able to use the work already done by
the Sports Commission of the ERC and by several countries. This work
is not yet final, but the discussion showed that in cooperation with
ISOD it will very soon lead to generally acceptable results. And this
takes us to the important question of cooperation with ISOD.
ISOD has been active for a number of years. At present it has 30
national member organizations. In view of the fact that ISOD works
in many countries and has a longer tradition, an agreement was signed
between WCWB and ISOD at the 1st European Games for the Blind
in Poznan in August 1977. The Presidents of both organizations, Boris
Zimin and Sir Ludwig Guttmann, signed the document which stipulates
equal cooperation in the field of sport for the blind. The agreement also
laid down that a technical committee with equal membership from both
organizations be formed to clarify any outstanding problems. This
127
means that ISOD and WCWB now acknowledge realities and the
Sports Committee is very optimistic about all further cooperation.
The first meeting of the technical conamittee was held on December
9-10, 1978 in Warsaw. A long agenda was dealt with in an atmosphere
of mutual confidence. In its future work, the Committee will take the
view of eye doctors and coaches more into account. Questions of
classification were also discussed. A number of problems in this field
are to be gradually solved after 1980, because then the lessons of the
Olympic Summer Games can be taken into consideration. The Olympic
Games of the Disabled are a great demonstration of what disabled
people are capable of and has a strong effect on the public. The Games
are being organized by ISOD, and the Sports Committee will support
ISOD as far as it is able to do so.
Now let us turn to those tasks which the Committee has set itself up
to 1984.
1 . The Committee will promote the already existing Sports Commissions
in the Regional Committees and off'er its support for formation of
further Sports Commissions.
2. The Committee will continue to consolidate cooperation with ISOD
and, as part of this, will work in the joint WCWB/ISOD Committee,
to work out standard competition regulations, lay down safety
measures for blind sport and gather information about records set
up by bhnd athletes.
3. The Committee will organize seminars for the exchange of experience
in the field of sport.
4. Support for regional and national sports events.
5. Organize exchange of information about suitable sports.
6. Promotion of sport propagation and popularization of various types
of sport and team games suitable for visually handicapped.
The Sports Committee is the ninth and also the youngest Committee
of the World Council. It began its activities only a few years ago but
already enjoys the support of many organizations of and for the blind
for which it expresses its gratitude to all those responsible. Together we
will succeed in gaining new friends for sport among blind people of all
ages.
128
AIMS OF SPORT FOR THE DISABLED
by Sir Ludwig Guttmann, C.B.E., F.R.S.
President, International Sports Organization for the Disabled (ISOD)
and International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF)
Sport has been defined by UNESCO as "Any physical activity which
has the character of play and which involves a struggle with oneself or
with others, or a confrontation with natural elements is sport. If this
activity involves competition it must be performed with a spirit of
sportsmanship. There can be no true sport without fair play. All rules
must be observed with this in mind".
Recreational activities in one way or another are playing an ever
increasing part in the life of the individual, as well as of society as a
whole. Consequently, the demand for greater variety in recreaction and
more adequate facilities for sport has dramatically increased in recent
years, and this applies today as much to the disabled as it does to the
able-bodied in the community.
The Physically Handicapped and the World Around Him
In order to understand the beneficial effects of sport on the severely
disabled it is worth while to examine the disabled person's position in
the world around him.
(a) Attitude of Society towards the Disabled: It is an undeniable fact
that, for thousands of years, the attitude of society towards the severely
physically disabled was basically negative. The two world wars with
their millions of disabled have certainly changed this attitude. In
particular, the introduction of the modern concepts of rehabilitation
after the Second World War has resulted in a positive approach and
attitude towards the severely disabled, who are now increasingly
accepted as part of the community.
(b) The Attitude of the Disabled towards the Community: It must be
remembered that any severe injury or disease resulting in severe dis-
abihty upsets to a greater or lesser degree the precision, economy and
course of the normal movement patterns of the body. The realization
and sudden awareness of the changed body-image resulting from the
abnormal patterns of movement is often the cause of a psychological
tension between the severely disabled person and his surrounding
world, which makes social contact with his able-bodied fellowmen
difficult and sometimes even impossible.
The Significance and Aims of Sport for the Blind and other Disabled
It is not difficult, therefore, to understand why sport is of even
greater significance for the well-being of the severely disabled than it is
for the able-bodied.
129
Broadly speaking, the aims of sport embody the same principles for
the disabled as they do for the able-bodied; in addition, however, sport
is of immense thereapeutic value and plays an essential part in the
physical, psychological and social rehabilitation of the disabled. The
aims of sport for the disabled can be classified as follows :
(a) Sport as a Curative Factor: Sport represents the most natural form
of remedial exercise and can be successfully employed to complement
the conventional methods of physical therapy. Blindness as such, unless
it is associated with other disabilities, does not affect the general fitness
of the individual. However, there are some specific changes of the
normal pattern of blind individuals, both young and adult, which
include loss or decrease of free movement in space. The aims of physical
education and sport are, in the first place, to encourage and promote
the development of readjustment forces in the nervous system, in
particular the sense of orientation in space. In teaching free and co-
ordinated movements and early sporting activities, walking, running in
a straight line over gradually increasing distances, bowling and swim-
ming are most helpful in this respect. Psychologically, sporting activities
undoubtedly help the blind person to come to terms with his inner
tensions and bring him out of his isolation. They bring him a new frame
of mind with self-confidence, competitive spirit, contact with his fellows
and, eventually, with the world around him. The more emphasis laid
in the early stages of blindness on free physical training and various
sporting activities the more will the blind person continue with sport as
recreation for his well-being later when he is at home and in employment.
(b) The Recreational and Psychological Value of Sport: However, sport
for the disabled has a deeper meaning than being merely a form of
physiotherapy. The great advantage of sport over formal remedial
exercise lies in its recreational value, which represents an additional
motivation by restoring that passion for playful activity and the desire
to experience joy and pleasure in life, so deeply inherent in any human
being. There is no doubt that much of the benefit of sport, as a form of
rehabilitation, is lost if the disabled person does not derive pleasure
from its recreational value. Thus, recreation becomes an important
factor in promoting that psychological equilibrium which enables the
disabled to come to terms with his physical defect. The aims of sport
are to develop in the disabled activity of mind, self-confidence, self-
dignity, self-discipline, competitive spirit and comradeship — mental
attitudes which are essential for getting the disabled person out of the
ghetto of self-centred isolation.
(c) Sport as a Means of Social Re-integration: One of the most im-
portant aims of sport for the disabled is to restore his contact with the
world around him; in other words, to facilitate and accelerate his social
reintegration. There are certain sports where the disabled are capable
of competing with the able-bodied. Bowls is one of these sports, and it
is fascinating to watch the skill of a completely blind bowler in placing
his woods near to the Jack, guided by the caller. As the game of bowls
is usually played in a club which has its own clubhouse and bar, the
social reintegration is usually continued and enhanced after the game
130
is over. Some disabled have even been known to fall in love with and
later marry someone they have met for the first time at a sports meeting
for the disabled — surely the ultimate in social reintegration through
sport!
(d) Sport as Organized Competition: During the Second World War,
as Founder Director of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke
Mandeville Hispital, England, I had the opportunity to introduce sport
as a therapeutic and recreational measure in the treatment and re-
habilitation of spinal cord injured patients, who throughout centuries
had been given up by the medical profession as hopeless cripples,
doomed to an early death. The success of sport as remedial exercise and
clinical treatment provided the incentive to start a sports movement of
the paralysed, and it was on July 28, 1948 that the Stoke Mandeville
Games were started with only 16 British ex-members of the Armed
forces (14 men and 2 women) as competitors, as a demonstration to the
public that competitive sport is not the prerogative of the able-bodied
but that the severely disabled can also become sportsmen and sports-
women in their own right. Today, the Stoke Mandeville Games for the
Paralysed of the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation
(ISMGF) are a world-wide sports movement, taking place annually at
Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium, except in the Olympic Years when
they are part of the Olympics of the Disabled.
With the founding of the International Sports Organization for the
Disabled (ISOD), international games have been held on an increasing
basis for other disabilities — amputees and blind in particular. ISOD
national member organizations have developed their own national sports
programmes and introduced training and coaching programmes and
held international events, using classifications and rules set up by ISOD.
In 1976, ISOD joined with the ISMGF in sponsoring the Olympic
Games for the Disabled, held in Toronto, Canada, which included
amputees, blind and spinal cord injured. That same year, amputees and
blind took part in the Winter Olympics of the Disabled held in Sweden.
At the end of this month, ISOD will hold multi-disabled games — for
amputees, blind and cerebral palsy — at Stoke Mandeville as a trial run
for the 1980 Olympics for the Disabled.
Thus, another dimension has been added to the aims of sport for the
disabled. For, the aim to reach such a standard that one can represent
one's club in national games or even one's country at international level
is indeed a powerful motivation to any disabled athlete in overcoming a
severe disability, and the fulfilment of such an aim one of the highest
pinnacles in his or her social reintegration.
International Cooperation
The theme of this Congress is Cooperation. Many fine phrases and
pious resolutions are made in the world today about cooperation, but,
alas, we all know that it is much more difficult when it comes to putting
them into practice. This apphes equally to sport for the disabled. Yet,
not to succeed would only bring disunity into the whole sports move-
ment of the disabled, with our disabled fellowmen finishing up as the
131
sufferers. WCWB and ISOD made the first important step in co-
operation in sport for the bhnd when WCWB President Colonel Zimin
and I, as President of ISOD signed the Protocol in Poznan, Poland,
during the First European Games for the Blind held under WCWB/
ISOD combined patronage. We must continue to seek ways to co-
operate not only on an international but also at national level, to ensure
harmony and cooperation in sport for all disabled. We must seek to
ensure that all countries implement the United Nations Charter of the
Rights of the Disabled — which means that participation in international
sport is open to all disabled in all countries of the world, irrespective of
race, religion or pohtics, in accordance with the constitutions and
principles of both the International Sports Organization for the Dis-
abled and the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation; so
that through our international sports movement of the disabled we
achieve perhaps the noblest aim of all — the furthering of friendship and
understanding amongst nations.
132
LONG CANE TECHNIQUE-
ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY SERVICES
by J. K. Holdsworth, M.B.E., M.A.
National Director, National Guide Dog and Mobility Training Centre,
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations of Australia
Introduction
This paper aims to give a brief introduction into the use of the long
cane technique as part of the process of orientation and mobility tuition
for blind and visually impaired people. It comments on the training of
those who are to teach orientation and mobility skills and gives some
examples of adaptations of the system to different situations.
History
The possibilities for independent travel by blind and visually im-
paired people have increased very greatly since the mid-1940's when
the long cane technique was developed as the basis for orientation and
mobility tuition.
John Malamazian (1970) outlines the early history of programmes of
staff training at the Hines Hospital, US Veterans Administration. He
gives some insight into the ph-losophy and emerging practice which led
to today's world-wide acceptance of well grounded orientation and
mobility teaching.
Evidence of the extent of this expansion is provided by Donald
Blasch (1971) and since that date the philosophy, training, and practice
embodied in what is known as the long cane technique has continued
to expand into Europe, Asia, South America and Africa (Holdsworth
1979).
Orientation and Mobility Services
The use of this term, long cane technique, may in itself mislead if its
use tends to imply that cane technique is all that is necessary to achieve
the objectives of safe, confident, purposeful, effective and independent
travel for blind and visually impaired people. It is of course the use of
the cane itself which is the most readily visible and evident part of the
whole process of orientation and mobihty but in some ways that
evident part expresses only the iceberg tip.
The hnkage of the term orientation with that of mobility is deliberate
and vital. Before a person can move from one point to another, he
must know where the first point is and where the second point is in
relation to the first, and where he is in relation to both. Orientation is a
dynamic process (Ball, 1964), as with movement the surroundings
change in relation to the mover. Thus orientation has been defined as
"the process of utilizing the remaining senses in establishing one's
133
position and relationship to all other significant objectives in one's
environment" (Widerberg, Kaarlela, 1970). The process and skills of
orientation are then the unseen part of that iceberg which also includes
the understanding of spatial concepts, motivation, cultural and sociental
values, the development of the individual's sensory processes and finally
the individual's self esteem.
The Use of the Long Cane
The long cane in itself is only a tool to aid independent movement
and travel. It is only good in so far as it helps the user accomplish
something (Ball, op. cit.). It is effective in so far as it is used appro-
priately in any particular environment. Briefly the long cane technique
is a formalized method of using a specialized cane to give the user
information about the ground ahead of him by monitoring the place
where his next step will fall.
The advantages of a well thought out system of independent travel
have been set out by Hoover (1950).
1. It provides an objective which is so important in stimulating and
maintaining interest during a learning process.
2. It provides material for the instructors with which to work in an
intelligent and efficient manner.
3. It does away with the trial and error method which in the hands
of the inexperienced usually results in more harm than good.
4. It provides a framework which would allow the accumulation,
sifting, and dispersing of knowledge to a larger group.
5. It is the inspiration for further research interpretation and
adoption of better techniques and systems.
6. By systematizing and planning many important aids so useful in
foot travel might well be brought under one head and thus
propagated and disseminated in a more intelligent manner.
7. With a systematic and carefully planned technique instructors
may be trained in this skill which previously had been practically
unknown.
Hill and Ponder (1976) have produced a thorough guide for practi-
tioners in which detailed attention is given to orientation, sighted
guide, self protection, cane skills, outdoor travel, special situations and
specifications for the long cane. This publication is likely to be of
particular interest for those involved in setting up courses for the
training of mobility instructors.
Training Orientation and Mobility Instructors
A key to the development of good orientation and mobility services
for blind and visually impaired people is to have well trained and
prepared orientation and mobility instructors. Throughout the world
courses for mobihty instructors, range in length from three months to a
twelve months course at post graduate level (European Mobility
Booklet, 1976).
134
"Put in the simplest of temis, tlie work of the orientation and
mobiUty instructor is to train a visually impaired person to be able to
move about with confidence once again. To accomplish this, the
instructor trains the person's remaining senses, including any remaining
vision, so that he can detect landmarks and reference points from the
sounds, odours, or tactual sensations they provide. Through accurate
interpretation and correct use of these landmarks, cues, and reference
points, a visually impaired person can determine where he is at all times.
In addition to this orientation training, instruction is also given in the
use of the long cane. This aid, when used in a systematic way, provides
the user with tactile feedback from the surfaces he is walking over, as
well as protection from obstacles in his path of travel. It should be
pointed out, however, that some persons have sufficient residual sight
that training in the use of the long cane is not necessary. Instead they
are trained to use their remaining vision and other senses more
effectively.
"Just as the physical loss of sight has its psychological, social,
personality and economic ramifications, the restoration of mobility in a
visually impaired person does more than only restore independent
movement. If you accept the dictums that 'life is movement' and that
'without movement one's ability to participate in life is greatly res-
tricted', then it could be said that the restoration of mobility skills may
also restore such things as personal independence, psychological
security, occupational opportunity and increased control over one's
own life.
"What has been described above covers the direct service role of the
mobility instructor; that is, his work of providing instruction on a
one-to-one basis to visually impaired persons. In addition to his
instructor role the orientation and mobility specialist can serve as
consultant to other professions. Like anyone else in the community,
the visually impaired person needs to call upon the services of medical,
paramedical, educational and welfare people. It is, therefore, important
that these people have some knowledge of visual impairment, so that
they may carry out their roles more competently and more confidently.
The nature of the orientation and mobility instructor's training would
enable him to provide just that knowledge.
"A mobility instructor with National Guide Dog & Mobility
Training Centre (Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations of
Australia) is expected to deliver his specialist service in the community
in conjunction with specialist staff from other rehabilitation organiza-
tions; thus, the mobility instructor may, from time to time, be part of a
team composed of specialists (e.g. occupational therapist, physio-
therapist, optometrist, medical doctor, etc.) called together to provide
a number of services to a visually impaired person. In this capacity he
could act as a consultant on blindness to the team and/or provide
orientation and mobihty training at the appropriate stage in the visually
impaired person's rehabilitation programme.
"In conclusion, when a person's sight is reduced to the degree that
his everyday life is inconvenienced, it is usually in the area of movement
that he experiences the most inconvenience. The orientation and
135
mobility instructor is equipped by training to lessen that inconvenience
considerably by building up a person's confidence in his remaining
senses, including remaining vision, and equipping him with suitable
aids to compensate for the reduction in vision." (Mullen, 1978)
Although this description was prepared for one particular agency it
will probably have some general applicab'lity.
A report prepared for the Mobility Sub-Committee of the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind Standing Committee on Re-
habilitation, Training and Employment lists the various countries
which carry out instructor training piogrammes together with the
length of course and criteria for acceptance (Holdsworth, 1979).
Developing Orientation and Mobility Services
Countries, agencies or groups considering the establishment or
development of orientation and mobility services might well consider
comments made by Norman Acton, Director of Rehabilitation Inter-
national (International Rehabilitation Review 1/79) in which he gave
five general principles for the establishment of services — the comments
on the principles are those of the author of this paper.
(i) That the launching of services should not depend upon definitive
statistics. In the field of blindness need tends to outstrip the
service capacity and this is so particularly in countries where
services are in the developing stage. It seems therefore that it
may be unwise to devote time and resources in an endeavour to
establish the demography of the field of blindness when it may
be more practical to realize the need is there and then start to do
something about meeting that need by providing even some
services.
(ii) Begin services with general forms of help of practical assistance
to people with disability. Mobility as a basic component of
rehabilitation services, could well be considered as one of the
more general forms of help and thus the provision of mobility
services should be early in the list of services to be developed.
(iii) Draw on existing facilities and use them so that they can assist
the disabled person. Even in countries where services are highly
developed in quality and quantity, greater use of existing facili-
ties and resources can usually be made (Holdsworth, 1972, 1974).
Schools and Health Centres may be used as bases for services for
the blind. Where services are developing, itinerant teachers,
health workers and even perhaps agricultural advisors may be
given sufficient tuition to enable them to provide some basic
service to blind people (Westaway, 1979).
(iv) Make sure that plans for training and utilization of rehabilitation
personnel have priority over plans for building and equipment.
Appropriate sei vices for blind people do not necessarily depend
upon having special rehabilitation centres. Indeed in countries
where many blind people live in rural situations a special re-
136
habilitation centre may be inappropriate as that setting may be
so different from the person's usual living situation that learning
in a centre could be largely irrelevant. The assumption that
learning and skills developed in a rehabilitation centre automa-
tically transfer to the person's home situation can be challenged,
as even one factor such as the attitude of the person's family
may be so pervasive as to minimize the effectiveness of the
rehabilitation process.
(v) Design services that are in harmony with the economic and
social resources of the community. To this may be added that
services should also be in harmony with the values, expectations
and needs of that community. Here it may be useful to reflect
that many rehabilitation services have been designed and deve-
loped to meet the needs values and resources of so-called western
communities. Whilst this most significant reservoir of knowledge
and experience should be used to the full when considering new
or improved services, the attitudes and values implicit in this
fund of experience, should be examined for compatibility with
the community where the services are to be established.
This is not to say that any negative attitudes about blindness should be
accepted or reinforced, but only that the values on which some services
are based may not be the values of some intended recipients of new
service.
In developing new services it is also important to recognize that for
the success of new services there should be a high commitment to them
and priority for them, by those in management positions, those con-
cerned with funding, and by those who will be providing resources.
The inclusion of orientation and mobility services can be expected to
increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation courses and has often led to
an increase in acceptability of the blind by the public.
When considering the establishment of courses for orientation and
mobility instructors it may be useful to utilize and seek the cooperation
of the existing staff training courses such as teacher training or health
staff training courses. It is likely that there will be at least some course
commonalities which can be used. The teaching of orientation and
mobility to clients may be carried out in many settings as is indicated
in the European Mobility Booklet (1976). Some very successful mobility
programmes operate from special rehabilitations for the blind. Some
from community health centres, some from other settings such as
residential establishments for the aged, centres for other handicapped
or with itinerant instructors working with the person in his own home
(Holdsworth, 1974). Some effective programmes have been carried out
in mental health settings (Holdsworth, ibid., Eichorn, 1969).
The Comstac Report (1966) and the associated self study guides
Orientation and Mobility Services (1977) and Orientation and Mobility
for Residential Schools (1968) are additional useful references for those
planning the introduction and development of orientation and mobility
services.
137
Training the Individual
Turning now to consider the matter of niobility tuition provided to
individuals a brief simple answer to the question "What is orientation
and mobility training" is given in the booklet How Does a Blind Person
Get Around (1973). In part this document states — "it is the part of a
blind person's rehabilitation or education that prepares him to travel
independently. The goal of all programmes is the achievement of as
much mobility as is possible according to the capabilities and desires of
the individual. The fundamental building block is the development of
the student's confidence, first in the mobility specialist and then in his
own ability to use his own other senses and to learn to get around on
his own".
As individuals have different starting points in mobility needs,
different reactions to given situations, different rates of learning, and
different degrees of visual loss, mobility tuition is usually given on a
one-to-one basis by the Orientation and Mobility Instructor. In this
way appropriate feed back — so essential to learning mobility skills — ■
can be given at once to the client by the instructor who is responsible
for the client's safety.
Individual programmes of tuition are usually planned on a graduated
basis, progressing from simple to more complex mobility experiences.
Each chent should be assessed in terms of his mobility needs and his
abilities, tuition goals being set in conjunction with the client, the
programme established and modified to suit individual progress, and on
completion evaluated for effectiveness and efficiency of presentation.
Individually defined goals should determine the level of competency
to be aimed for and each client should be helped to develop:
(i) an understanding of his abilities and capabilities,
(ii) a realistic view of his travel competencies,
(iii) knowledge of how to adapt his learned skills to new situations,
(iv) an understanding of how and when to seek help or support.
Hill and Fonder (op. cit.) describe the ultimate goal of orientation
and mobility as being to enable the student or client to enter any
environment familiar or unfamihar and to function safely, efficiently,
gracefully and independently by using a combination of these two
skills. The authors then give an overview of the prerequisite skills and
variables in three headings— cognitive, psychomotor and affective.
Cognitive
(a) Concept development — body imagery, nature of environment
and temporal relationships
(b) Divergent thinking
(c) Problem solving
(e) Decision making
(e) Retention and transfer
(f) Utilization of remaining senses.
138
(a)
Balance and coordination
(b)
Posture and gait
(c)
Ability to walk a
straight line and execute turns
(d)
Dexterity
(e)
Stamina
(f)
Reaction time.
Affective
(a)
Attitude
(b)
Motivation
(c)
Values
(d) Self Confidence.
It is important however to recognize that it is the individual's
existing skills, abilities and successes on which the Orientation and
Mobility Instructor will have to build in working with that person.
Listing the person's abilities and defects may help to ident'fy the total
needs, but recognizing the person's strengths, achievements and capa-
bilities is the fundamental basis from which teaching and learning will
stem. All too frequently rehabilitation assessments emphasize the prob-
lems at the expense of recognition of the individual's successes in
managing his life up to that time. Each person working with a client
should be constantly sensitive to expressions by the client of his
aspirations, interests, motivating factors and concerns. This applies
especially to the Orientation and Mobility Instructor who often works
with a client for longer periods than other rehabilitation staflF members.
Adaptations
The techniques developed in the use of the long cane, and the tuition
patterns established for the teaching of orientation and mobility skills,
were of course prepared to meet the needs of blind and visually im-
paired people living in western type urban situations. Experience has
shown that these techniques are broadly applicable to other situations
such as rural settings. Frequently however adaptations have to be made
to meet individual differences such as the effects of ageing, other
handicaps and in general any significant, medical, physical, psycho-
logical or social factors.
Other adaptations may have to be made to suit differing environ-
ments, social customs and community values. To illustrate the ways in
which orientation and mobility tuition can be adapted to differing
situations, two programmes conducted by Royal Guide Dogs for the
Blind Assocations of Australia are described — one in India and the
second with aboriginal people in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Devedas and Westaway (1978) made a particularly perceptive
approach to the development of orientation and mobility programmes
in Asia together with an account of a joint programme conducted in
139
Bombay, by the National Association for the BHnd, India and the
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations of Australia and which
was funded by an Australian Churches Overseas Aid Organization,
Force 10.
This paper emphasizes the necessity for joint decision making
between providers, funders and receivers of the programjne. The paper
also points out the commonal'ties of orientation and mobility instructor
courses and those courses undertaken by paramedical and some
educational workers. The paper states in its summary "for developing
assisted programmes in Asia there appears to be a need foi allocating
significant resources into joint planning. The processes involved in
planning have to be seen as part of the development to create res-
ponsiveness and thereby responsibility to sustain such programmes".
At the workface some of the methods of mobility service delivery
which have been developed in India include:
(i) Mobility Instructors working as niembers of the team of re-
habilitation workers in a residential centre.
(ii) Physical education instructors with mobility training who work
in schools for blind children.
(iii) Machine shop instructors with mobility training v/orking in a
vocational rehabilitation centre in Bombay.
(iv) Mobility Instructors working as members of a team in a resi-
dential rural rehabilitation centre.
(v) Multi-purpose workers with mobility training who also teach
blind people how to do household duties and rural jobs such as
farming.
Ways in which techniques have been adapted include:
(i) Using local materials such as bamboo for long canes. Bamboo
is in plentiful supply, is inexpensive and robust.
(ii) In busy urban areas the road is often used as an alternative to
overcrowded footpaths which are subject to regular excava ion.
(iii) The use of the cane as a link between the guide and person being
guided where cultural expectations do not allow a man to hold
a woman's arm.
(iv) Teaching people to walk without any aid particularly in rural
areas where there is little traffic and where walking tracks can be
followed with the bare foot.
(v) Giving younger children in the family the responsibility of acting
as guides for the father in order that he can coniinue as the
bread winner (Pieters, 1979).
In addition some programmes have been developed to meet specific
needs of the rural blind in India (Jaekle, 1977).
Social and cultural differences provided the greatest pressures for
adaptation in a programme designed to assess the needs of visually
impaired aborigines in Central Australia (Durinck, 1979). The pro-
gramme was conducted under the auspices of the Australian National
140
Council of and for the Blind, whilst agencies provided staff and other
support. Some aspects of the social and cultural differences included:
(i) The permeating effect of tribal laws and beliefs. This was shown
when one training programme had to be suspended due to the
trainee having an injured leg. The injury was in the form of
"sorrow cuts". Such cuts are inflicted as a sign of the depth of
feeling the person has about a particular incident. Again the
training of several clients had to be suspended because the
people concerned had left the area to attend "ceremonies". Thus
no matter how "europeanized" the Australian aboriginal may
appear to be, his whole life is continually governed by tribal
beliefs and laws.
(ii) The impact of the extended family system. The extended family
is such that it was found to be impossible in many cases to assess
and apply services to a single client. The family had to be
involved at all stages. A typical situation would occur where the
whole family, including the client, received a demonstration and
explanation of the services being offered. The family then had to
be allowed several days in order to discuss the matter. There is
also the matter of interpersonal obligations particularly con-
cerning the right to possess various objects. If a person had a
shirt and another member of the group said that he wanted it
then he would be obliged to hand it over. This did cause some
problems where prescription lenses or aids such as the long cane
were concerned. Thus the individual had to be seen as an in-
divisible part of the family, and staff had to expect to deal
intimately with the whole family as well as the individual person.
(iii) The fundamental differences between "european" Australians
and Aboriginal Australian cultures. For example values con-
cerning nature in western societies are often expressed in terms
of mastery. In the Aboriginal society they are expressed in terms
of harmony. Then there is a concept of sharing rather than
hoarding goods. Values about competition are expressed in
terms of cooperation and humility rather than aggression, and
individuality is a matter of group identification rather than self
realization. Thus any training programme must be structured
in relation to how the client perceives the relevance of that
programme to his total environment, psychological, social and
physical. Durinck concludes that whilst orientation and mobility
skills are appropriate in the aboriginal setting examined, major
changes need to be made in the planning of programmes and in
the application of skills. In particular any programmes developed
should not only look at the person's mobihty needs but should
be presented in relation to the client's cultural upbringing and
the sociological setting in which they are to function.
These examples of two programmes demonstrate the importance of
understanding the social, cultural and economic climates before
programmes are initiated.
141
The long cane technique as part of orientation and mobility services
has a solid history of development and success but it should not
perhaps be seen as an unchangeable system ready to be applied to any
setting, country or culture. Each society is likely to have untapped
resources in terms of skills, personnel and knowledge which can and
should be used in establishing orientation and mobility, and perhaps
other services. However the importance of good instruction for blind
and visually impaired people in orientation and mobility cannot be
over emphasized (Buijk, 1977) thus staff training should be a first step
in the development of services.
Nevertheless lavish resources are not a necessary prerequisite for
effective services given a genuine effort to understand the real needs of
the consumer, careful planning, and community cooperation.
Conclusion
This brief overview of the use of the long cane in developing orienta-
tion and mobility skills has not attempted to examine the subject in
detail. It is anticipated that those interested in establishing or further
developing orientation and mobility services would find additional
information and support in the growing body of specialist literature
and through the experience and knowledge which has been gained in
the field.
This author acknowledges the valuable help which has been so
readily given to him over many years by practitioners throughout the
world including those who use orientation and mobility skills as part
of their daily living activities and also teachers of those skills.
J. K. Holdsworth, M.B.E., M.A.
National Director,
Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations of Australia,
National Guide Dog and Mobility Training Centre,
Chandler Highway,
Kew, Victoria, 3101
Australia.
June, 1979.
References
ACTON, N. "Statistics and Planning", International Rehabilitation Review ] 11919.
BALL, M. J. "Mobility in Perspective", Blindness Annual, American Association of
Workers for the Blind, Inc., Washington, 1964.
BUIJK, C. A. Mobility of the Blind and the Partially Sighted, Amsterdam, 1977.
BLASCH, D. "Orientation and Mobility Fans Out", Blindness Annual, American
Association of Workers for the Blind, Inc., Washington, 1971.
BLASCH, D. Comstac Report, Standards for Strengthened Services, National
Accreditation Council, New York, 1966.
DURINCK, M. Unpublished Report — Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations
of Australia, 1979.
DEVEDAS, D. and WESTAWAY, D. L. "Towards Total Integration— A Practical
Approach", Fifth Asian Conference on Work for the Blind, 1978.
EICHORN, J. R. "Teaching Orientation and Mobility to the Mentally Retarded
Blind", Boston College, 1969.
142
HILL, E. and PONDER, P. Orientation and Mobility Techniques — A Guide for the
Practitioner, American Foundation for the Blind, New York, 1976.
HOLDSWORTH, J. K. "The Use of Community Resources", Australian Social
Welfare, March 1972.
HOLDSWORTH, J. K. New Approaches to Mobility Training, Fifth World Assembly
of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, Brazil, August, 1974.
HOLDSWORTH, J. K. Courses for the Training of Mobility Instructors, Report to
the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind, 1977.
HOOVER, R. E. "The Cane as a Travel Aid", Blindness, Modern Approaches to
the Unseen Environment, Western Michigan University, 1950.
JAEKLE, R. "Rehabilitation of Blind Persons in Rural India", Journal of Visual
Impairment and Blindness, Volume 71, June 1977.
LONG, R., BLASCH, D., GOODMAN, W. and WELSH, R. How Does a Blind
Person Get Around? American Foundation for the Blind, Inc., New York, 1973.
MALAMAZIAN, J. D. "The First 15 Years at Hines", Blindness Annual, American
Association of Workers for the Blind, Washington, 1970.
MALAMAZIAN, J. D. "Mobility", European Mobility Booklet, Editor, Dr. H.
Pielasch, Leipzig, 1976.
MULLEN, E. "The Orientation and Mobility Instructor — A Role Description"
(Unpublished), Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations of Australia, 1978.
MULLEN, E. "Orientation and Mobility", Self Study and Evaluation Guide for
Residential Schools, National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the
Blind and Visually Handicapped, New York, 1968.
MULLEN, E. "Orientation and Mobility Services", Self Study and Evaluation
Guide, National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and
Visually Handicapped, New York, 1977.
PIETERS, H. Unpublished Report— Royal Guide Dogs for the Blind Associations
of Australia, 1979.
WESTAWAY, D. L. Personal Communication.
WIDERBERG, L. and KAARLELA, R. "Basic Components of Orientation and
Movement Techniques", The Graduate College, Western Michigan University,
1970.
143
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 6
REGIONAL COOPERATION
Saturday morning, August 4, 1979
Chairman: Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim, Saudi Arabia
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON AFRICAN AFFAIRS
by Ismaila Konate, Chairman
I. Introduction
The developing countries in Africa are beset with serious health
problems and eye diseases often cause great havoc. There is an enormous
amouni of blindness on the continent.
The situation is even more dramatic because conditions are such that
the blind cannot lead a decent life. In most of the States they are
economic outcasts living on the sidelines of social and economic
development.
It was in this context that the Committee on African Affairs saw the
light of day in 1964, thanks to Tunisia and Nigeria. If this Committee
remained somewhat dormant from 1964 to 1974, it was because it was
faced with considerable problems. In fact, most of the States were ill-
informed about the problem and the distances separating the countries
did not help to facilitate relations.
Furthermore, following their independence, the African countries
were confronted with problems of the utm.ost importance. In this
report we shall therefore comment on the situation between 1974 and
1979, taking into account two distinct periods, that of August 1974 to
March 1977 and March 1977 to August 1979.
n. August 1974-March 1977
Since 1974 there appears to have been a fresh impetus and the twelve
African countries affiliated to the World Council are making their mark.
In 1974, Mr. Mohamed Rajhi, Secretary General of the National
Union of the Blind of Tunisia (UNAT) was elected Chairman of the
African Affairs Committee. A feature of this period was an intense
information campaign and a real crusade throughout the continent.
The first thing, in fact, was to convince governments of the need to
support the blind and the Committee's activities.
Circulars and international meetings in one country or another
provided favourable opportunities and this resulted in GAU recognizing
our Committee and giving us observer status.
144
At the same time, at the Committee's subsequent General Assembly,
the Executive approved the Constitution. Furthermore, in implementa-
tion of the decisions of the Euro-African meeting in Tunis in November
1973, Tunisia set up an African Centre for the Training of Educators.
This centre has trained a number of African technicians in rehabilitation
and education.
In the same context, an agreement was signed between tF(e European
Regional Committee and the African Regional Committee. Un-
fortunately, after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the World
Council, in Riyadh, March 1977, Mr. Mohamed Rajhi, then chairman
of the African Regional Committee, submitted his resignation.
Nevertheless, the culmination of this period (1974-1977) was the
decision of WCWB Executive Committee to hold the Sixth World
Assembly in Lagos from August 1 to 10, 1979.
III. March 1977-August 1979
After the resignation of Mr. Rajhi and the unsuccessful attempts to
bring him back to the World Council in the name of African unity, I
took over the Committee following the decision of WCWB's Honorary
Officers. While it was difficult to hold meetings of the Committee from
1974 to 1977, the period 1977 to 1979 saw a decided improvement in
contacts, which became frequent (May 1977 in Dakar; December 1977
in Bamako; November 1978 in Algeria and Prague).
This period was marked by :
1 . Affiliation of new members
2. Dissemination of information through meetings, visits, corres-
pondence
3. Strengthening of relations with the European Regional Committee
4. Conception and study of the Constitution of the African Solidarity
Fund
5. Conception and study of a liaison medium (African Blind journal)
6. Circulation of texts relating to legislation concerning the blind
7. Examination of possibilities of creating one or more teacher
training centres
8. Approaches to airlines on transporting the bhnd
9. Meetings with certain Heads of African States and the Secretary
General of the Organization of African Unity
10. Visits by delegates to Africa, including Upper Volta, Togo,
Morocco, Tunisia, etc.
IV. Suggestions
Although considerable progress has been made in social welfare for
the blind in Africa, it must however be admitted that enormous
problems persist.
In fact, the want of information, the great distances and the lack of
coordination of experts still slow up the development of the African
Committee.
145
Consequently, it is desirable that the continent be divided into sub-
groups made up of States within the same geographical area, each
sub-group representing a sub-committee with a governing body.
This sub-committee would draw up a plan of action. The group of
sub-committees would elect the Executive of the Committee on African
Affairs.
V. Conclusion
As can be seen, problems are far from simple in the African countries.
Their solution depends on the existence in each country of a strong,
united association having at the top people who have the courage of
their convictions and faith in the cause.
There should then be close collaboration between the countries
which, by combining their efforts, could solve many problems. Disputes
foreign to Africa, based on motives unknown to our countries, should
on no account be transposed to Africa which must be united and needs
all its energy to face the all-consuming problem of blindness and the
blind.
The African Committee is basing its hopes to a great extent on Lagos,
which should be the starting point of bhnd welfare activities in ^Africa.
May international solidarity play its role to the full !
146
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ASIAN AFFAIRS
by Suresh C. Ahuja, Chairman
The Chairman and Members of the Committee (as constituted in
1974) have been active and have been working closely together.
Membership
Membership of the Asian Committee consists of representatives of
the National Members, International Members, Associate Members,
Sponsoring Members and the Honorary Life Members from Asia.
Representatives from Australia and New Zealand are also serving on
the Committee as invitees with a view to building up closer ties between
Asia and Oceania. Some organizations of the blind in the Asian Region
have nominated observers on the Committee. This has helped to bring
about greater cooperation and coordination between organizations of
and for the blind.
Dissemination of Information
Since February 1975, a quarterly Newsletter is being issued regularly
by the Chairman. Copies are sent to all members, officials of the
WCWB and others interested in work for the blind in Asia. In addition
to news items from countries in the region, the Newsletter also draws
the attention of members to international events, special problems
concerning the welfare of the blind, prevention of blindness, etc.
"The Asian Blind" (Vol. 9) was pubhshed in 1976. In this issue, a
survey of educational facilities for the blind in Asia was included.
Vol. 10, which includes a survey of vocational training and employment
opportunities for the blind in Asia was distributed at the Fifth Asian
Conference. Volume 11 containing a survey on orientation and mobihty
practices in Asia, it is hoped, will be ready for distribution at Lagos.
Leadership Seminar
The Leadership Seminar for Training of Blind Leaders sponsored by
the Committee on Asian Affairs of the WCWB, the Swedish Association
for the Blind, was held in Kuala Lumpur from November 19 to
December 2, 1975. Nineteen participants from Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh and India took part in the
Seminar. The 9 instructors included Mr. Anders Arnor, Secretary
General, WCWB; Mr. Henry Blid, Swedish Cooperative Centre; Mr.
Suresh C. Ahuja, Chairman, WCWB Asian Committee; Mrs. Fatima
Shah, President, International Federation of the Blind; Mr. Ron
Chandran-Dudley, Singapore Association for the Blind; Miss Winnie
Ng, Malayan Association for the Blind; Mr. W. G. Brohier, St.
147
Nicholas School for the Blind, Malaysia and Mr. Daman Prakash,
International Cooperative Alliance.
The Asian Committee records its thanks to the Swedish Federation
of the Blind whose late President, Dr. Charles Hedkv'st, conceived the
idea of holding this Seminar and obtained the necessary financial aid
from the S^^'edish International Development Authority.
As a follow-up to the Leadership Seminar, the National Federation
of the Blind of India held a Leadership Seminar in June 1976 in Kashmir.
This was followed by a second session in New Delhi in December 1976.
Cooperation and Coordination
The Chairman had a meeting with Mr. Lai Advani, Chairman of the
International Federation of the Blind, Asian Committee, with a view to
bringing about cooperation and coordination. The Chairman attended
the First Regional Conference of the IFB's Asian Committee in New
Delhi in November 1978.
India and Malaysia have offered observation courses for workers in
the field of blind welfare.
Bilateral Cooperation between countries in the region and between
Asian and Oceanic countries has been increasing steadily.
India has received talking book equipment from Australia and New
Zealand. A training course for mobility instructors was held in Bombay
in January-February 1977 with the help of a team from Austraha. A
Department of Rehabilitation has been established in Bombay by the
NAB with assistance from Australia.
Close cooperation is being maintained with the WCWB Middle East
Committee. At the invitation of its Chairman, Sheikh Abdullah M.
Al-Ghanim, Mr. Suresh C. Ahuja attended the Fourth Regional Con-
ference, organized by the Regional Bureau of the Middle East Com-
mittee for the Welfare of the Blind, in Amman in November 1977.
Prevention of Blindness in Asia
Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi, the Sasakawa
Memorial Health Foundation has recently donated an amount of
US $200,000 for prevention of blindness work in Asia. This is the first
donation of its kind and if the programmes initiated by WHO prove
successful, more aid will be forthcoming not only for prevention of
blindness but also for programmes for the welfare of the blind.
Earlier, Japan provided Nepal with ophthalmic equipment. A team
of Japanese ophthalmologists visited Nepal in 1976.
The WCWB and the Asian Committee were represented at meetings
of the WHO Regional Committees. At all these meetings, the repre-
sentatives of the Asian Committee focused attention on the need for
increased activity in the field of prevention of blindness.
Mr. Suresh C. Ahuja has recently been appointed as a member of the
WHO Experts Advisory Panel on Trachoma and Prevention of
Blindness.
148
ILO/DANIDA Asian Seminar on Vocational Rehabilitation of the Blind
and Deaf, Hong Kong
The ILO, jointly with DANIDA and the Hong Kong Government,
held a Seminar on Vocational Rehabilitation of the Blind and Deaf in
Hong Kong from December 1 to 17, 1976. The Committee on Asian
Affairs of the WCWB nominated Miss Winnie Ng, Honorary Secretary,
to attend this Seminar and present a paper. Miss Winnie Ng made an
excellent contribution at the Seminar.
ILO's interest in the Vocational Rehabilitatfon and Placement of the
Blind is indeed most welcome.
International Conferences
The Chairman attended the 5th Pan Pacific Conference in Singapore
and the 2nd ICEVH Asian Regional Conference in Penang in November
1975. In Singapore he presented a paper on "Employment Opportuni-
ties and Prospects for the Blind" and in Penang a paper on "Career
Counselling" and a paper on "The Role of the Asian Committee of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind."
The Chairman also attended the Helen Keller World Conference on
Services to Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults in New York in September
1977, where he was responsible for the adoption of a "Declaration of
the Rights of the Deaf-Blind". The Chairman has attended meetings of
WCWB Committee on Services to the Deaf-Blind in London, 1976 and
Hanover, 1978. He has been appointed as a member of the Programme
Committee for the forthcoming Helen Keller Centennial Conference
to be held in Hanover in 1980.
Regional Sports
At Riyadh, the WCWB established a Standing Committee on Sports.
At the invitation of the Committee of WCWB Sports Committee to
nominate a representative, Mr. G. L. Nardekar (India) was nominated
to represent the Asian Committee. The WCWB Sports Committee has
recommended the formation of Regional and National Sports Councils
of the Blind. As a result, an All India Sports Council for the Blind has
been established by the National Association for the Blind, India. The
Asian Committee has appointed a group to collect information re-
garding sports activities and standards in sports for the blind in Asia.
Takeo Iwahashi Awards
The Takeo Iwahashi Award, instituted by the Asian Committee in
1975, has been awarded to the following:
Mr. Tsung Wen-Shiong, Taiwan, 1975
Datuk (Dr.) Keshmahinder Singh, Malaysia, 1976
Capt. H. J. M. Desai, India, 1977
Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi, Japan, 1978
Miss Lucy Ching, Hong Kong, 1979.
149
Asian Fund
The Asian Fund, which was constituted at the Fourth Asian Con-
ference on Work for the Bhnd is being built up steadily, though slowly.
Efforts are now being made to raise much larger funds in order that the
activities of the Committee, particularly with regard to staff training
and exchange programmes, can be increased.
Finance
A voluntary operating fee of US $30 per year has been received from
some of the member countries. The Regional Bureau of the Middle
East Committee for the Welfare of the Blind very kindly gave a grant
of US $2,000. The Christoffel Blindenmission granted Rs. 6,000 towards
the publication and printing of "The Asian Blind".
Expenses of the Committee have been kept to a minimum, thanks to
the decision of the National Association for the Blind of India and the
Malayan Association for the Blind to meet the administrative costs
incurred by the Chairman and Secretary respectively, during their
present term of office.
Committee Meetings
Two meetings of the Asian Committee were held in Hong Kong
during the Fifth Asian Conference on Work for the Blind. At these
meetings the members adopted a new set of rules for the Committee
and also considered the future plans of the Committee. The rules have
been submitted to the Executive Committee of the WCWB for approval.
In accordance with the new rules, the Committee elected a Chairman
and a Vice-Chairman for the period 1979-84. Mr. Suresh C. Ahuja
was re-elected Chairman and Miss Winnie Ng was elected Vice-
Chairman. These names are being submitted to the Executive Com-
mittee of the WCWB for approval.
Fifth Asian Conference on Work for the Blind
Over 140 participants from 22 countries attended the Fifth Asian
Conference on Work for the Blind in Hong Kong from December 3 to 9,
1978. Fourteen Asian countries — Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, India,
Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan,
Indonesia, Philippines, Japan and South Korea were represented.
Three Oceanic countries — Australia, New Zealand and Fiji also sent
representatives. The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind was
represented by Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi, Vice-President (Japan), Sheikh
Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim, Vice-President (Saudi Arabia), Mr. John C.
Colligan, Honorary Treasurer (United Kingdom), Mr. Anders Arnor,
Honorary Secretary General (Sweden), Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, Chairman,
Committee on Rehabilitation, Training and Employment (Sweden), and
Mr. H. Roberts, Chairman, Committee on Coordination of Aid to the
Developing Countries (USA).
The theme of the Conference was "Towards Total Integration — A
Practical Approach" and the main emphasis was on Vocational
Training and Employment of the Blind. The Plenary Sessions were
150
followed by discussion groups which resulted in many new ideas being
aired.
An important feature of the Conference was the high proportion of
blind people who were present at the Conference both as participants
and as speakers. Organizations of the blind from many countries,
namely Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Malaysia, Japan and Australia were represented.
Another interesting feature of the Conference was the number of new
speakers. With the exception of three or four papers, most of the papers
were presented by people who were speaking at an international
conference for the first time.
A highlight of the Conference was the International Session when
statements were presented by Chairmen of the Regional and Standing
Committees of WCWB and representatives of international agencies.
The very presence of a number of leading personalities from the inter-
national set-up indicated their positive interest and support in work for
the blind in Asia. It also signified recognition of the fact that Asia is
taking steps to achieve the goal which all of us in work for the blind
are aiming at — the total integration of the blind.
At the end of the Conference ten brief and to-the-point resolutions
were adopted. These resolutions, it is believed, are practical and capable
of being implemented during the next five years. These resolutions cover
the areas of education, low vision, training, employment, orientation
and mobility, the rural blind, the multi-handicapped and integration of
blind women. In addition, special attention has been focused on
programmes for blind children during International Year of the Child.
These resolutions are being brought to the attention of the govern-
ments, national organizations of and for the blind in the region and
international agencies.
Asia has indeed come a long way from the time when the First Asian
Conference on Work for the Blind was held in Tokyo in 1955. The first
three conferences were organized for the Asians by international agen-
cies. The Fourth Asian Conference on Work for the Blind in Bombay
in 1973 and the Fifth Asian Conference on Work for the Blind in Hong
Kong in 1978 have been two of the most successful and well organized
international conferences and these were organized by the WCWB
Committee on Asian Affairs.
151
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EUROPEAN AFFAIRS
by Andre Nicolle, Chairman
During the period under review, cooperation between organizations
of and for the bhnd in Europe has made further progress. This is shown
by the many regional events organized by individual members, which
almost all the members attended.
The ERC General Assemblies and the Executive Committee
The main events were the General Assemblies in 1976 in Geneva and
1978 in Prague. According to the general view, both Assemblies did
justice to their tasks because they drew attention to growing problems
and provided opportunities for discussing practical possibilities of
reaching a solution.
In Geneva in 1976, resolutions on the following subjects were
adopted : press and public relations, mobility, care for multi-handicapped
bhnd people and cooperation with BLINDOC Information Service,
set up by ILO.
In Prague in 1978, resolutions were adopted on the tasks of the
organizations of and for the blind during the International Year of the
Child (1979) and the International Year for Disabled Persons (1981),
and on the social rights of the blind. The resolution on the social rights
of the blind is based on declarations made by the United Nations on
general Human Rights and on the Rights of Disabled Persons. Pre-
suming that equality of opportunity for the blind must be secured, the
resolution contains a survey of ways in which society can ease a blind
person's situation, such as through financial compensation for blind-
ness, pensions, tax reductions, cheaper fares, etc.
It was also decided to hold the General Assemblies every three years
instead of every two.
Since the 1978 General Assembly, the ERC Executive Committee is
composed of the following members :
Chairman Andre Nicolle France
Vice-Chairman Dr. Jan Drtina Czechoslovakia
Yice-Chairman Prof. Giuseppe Fuca Italy
Vice-Chiarman Dr. Jan Huyers Netherlands
Treasurer Arne Husveg Norway
Secretary Dr. Dr. Helmut Pielasch GDR
The three former Vice-Chairmen : Ami Mermod, Switzerland and
Ivan Iliev, Bulgaria, retired due to old age and illness, while Wilhelm
Marhauer, F.R.G. is deceased.
The Executive held two meetings each year. These meetings were
held in connection with conferences and committee meetings, which
made possible a continual contact between the national organizations
of and for the blind. The executive members paid their own travel
152
expenses so that the meetings could be held without being a drain on
ERC resources.
World and European Conferences
During the period covered by this report, ten international events
were held in Europe in which the ERC participated either directly or
indirectly. Four of them were world conferences:
— the International Conference on the Situation of Blind Women,
November 1975, in Belgrade;
— the Experts Meeting on the Standardization of Mathematical and
Scientific Braille Notation, April 1976, in Moscow;
— the International Symposium on Problems concerning the Pre-
School Education of Blind Children and Parental Guidance, May
1976, in Berhn;
— the International Symposium on Problems of Sports for the Blind,
April 1979, in Belgrade.
Six international events were held on the European level. They were:
— the International Congress for the 150th Anniversary of the Braille
System, May 1975, in Paris;
— the International Conference on Culture, Leisure and Sport for
the Blind, September 1975, in Warsaw;
— the European Technical Conference, April 1977, in London;
— the First European Games for the Blind, August 1977, in Poznan;
— the European Conference on Basic Rehabilitation, October 1977,
in Rotterdam;
— the European Conference of Directors of Braille Printing Houses
and Libraries, April 1978, in Madrid.
These conferences provided a forum for the experts for the exchange
of experiences and new ideas. They were prepared by qualified lecturers
in the commissions and working groups of the ERC Executive. They
were made possible by the general hospitality and careful organization
of the host organizations for and of the blind.
It was possible to discuss new findings at these conferences. The
practical and theoretical lectures influenced the work of the member
organizations and helped substantiate activities in each field dealt with.
Our friends did very valuable work to promote international co-
operation by holding these events and thus also effectively supported
the ERC. An international organization cannot remain alive simply by
its members paying their annual dues. It needs real support through the
material contribution of holding conferences, seminars and other
meetings and through the issuing of international publications. This
form of support is given to the ERC by the majority of its members.
The close cooperation of the European countries becomes parti-
cularly clear in the four-language journal "Review of the European
Blind". This journal is also issued by the ERC Secretariat. It was
developed into a real forum for the exchange of opinions and ex-
periences after authors were found in many countries. Thanks to the
generous support given by the Comite National pour la Promotion
153
sociale des Aveugles in France, the RNIB in the United Kingdom, the
National Organization of the Spanish BUnd and the Association of the
Bhnd and Partially-Sighted in the GDR, the journal will appear in
English, French, Spanish and German braille. These organizations,
plus the Norwegian Association of the Blind and the All-Russia
Association of the Blind, issue the journal on tape and the Spanish
organization provides a Spanish inkprint version. In this way, the
"Review" has become a real work of international cooperation. At the
request of the WCWB Secretary General, it is sent free of charge to all
World Council members since 1978.
The editorial board has decided to publish special issues. In prepara-
tion for the International Symposium on Problems of Sport for the
Blind, an issue was devoted solely to this subject. Another issue dealt
only with the prevention of blindness.
Relations with tiie International Federation of the Blind
As many members already know, the European Area Committee of
the International Federation of the Blind was constituted in May 1978.
This means that there are now two international committees in Europe.
The ERC Executive will work for fruitful cooperation and always
emphasize that which we have in common. We also want to avoid
duplication of work. A meeting of the two Executive committees was
held at the beginning of 1979. Here, information was exchanged and
activities coordinated. In future, too, we wish to do everything possible
to facilitate cooperation.
Relations with the World Council
Relations with the World Council are very good. At the 1976 General
Assembly we took note that the World Council's interest in the work
of the ERC had increased considerably. Since then, this impression has
been strengthened.
The European Regional Committee is conscious of the responsibility
it has for the work of the World Council; we are of the opinion that the
basis for effectiveness of the World Council is that the regional com-
mittees work well.
The main work of the World Council is done in the Regional Com-
mittees as international cooperation is particularly effective between
countries located in the same geographical region and with similar
social conditions. We are convinced that by developing this cooperation
we can contribute effectively to furthering the World Council's cause,
that of the blind and visually handicapped throughout the world.
The Development of Sport in the ERC
It is difficult to highlight any one of the many events, because each
was significant in its own field. But one can be mentioned with particular
satisfaction because it was a real break-through: the First European
Games for the Bhnd, in Poznan, Poland. For a long time, multilateral
sports competitions for the blind had been held in various European
154
regions, but the first all-European games took place only in August
1977, after the Polish hosts had created all the necessary conditions.
Competitions in light athletics, swimming and roll-ball were held and a
number of excellent performances were achieved. The Games did much
to improve public relations and set new standards. We will do every-
thing possible to continue the Games' tradition and we are convinced
that in the various countries they will give a strong impetus to sport
for the bhnd.
Work of the Commissions
The ERC Executive now has five commissions : culture, rehabilitation,
social policy, technical aids and sport. The first commissions began
work in 1972, and their activities have developed well. Each com-
mission has from five to nine members, can form working groups and
call in experts, if they consider it necessary. The commissions have
proved to be indispensable advisers for the Executive. It is thanks to
their help that the international conferences have been able to achieve
such a high level. Furthermore, the commissions made it possible to
draw almost all European countries into international work and to
establish firm contacts between the experts. The organizations of and
for the blind ensured the cooperation of their own experts by taking
over their travel expenses and themselves hosting commission meetings.
Cooperation with the African Regional Committee
For many years now, friendly relations have existed between blind
people in European and African countries. They are an expression of
the sense of responsibility felt by the organizations of and for the blind
for blind people on the emerging continent. At the 1976 General
Assembly, the ERC and ARC representatives signed an agreement
stipulating that the African states would receive more effective aid. By
1978, the first results could already be reported. Many contacts were
taken up on a multilateral and bilateral level. A number of European
states gathered considerable experience through this exchange and
giving of support, and the ERC Executive will search for ways to spread
this knowledge.
ERC Publications
In 1976, the brochure "Mobility — A Means to Self-Reliance and
Integration of the Blind" was published in four languages. Experts from
four countries helped to choose the pictures and write the text. The
brochure has found general approval and a second edition has come
out. Modelled on this brochure, a second was published — "Games and
Toys for Blind Children in Pre-School Age" — with the help of experts
from, this time, six countries. And, finally, a third brochure should be
mentioned, entitled "Our Blind Child", which advises parents on bring-
ing up their visually impaired children. The last two brochures have
been published as a contribution to the International Year of the Child.
They have been sent to all organizations of and for the blind free of
charge by the ERC Secretariat and further orders can be met.
155
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS
by Hernando Pradilla Cobos, Chairman
Introduction
Mr. President, other officers, Members of the Executive Committee,
Delegates and Observers to the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind Sixth General Assembly.
Today, I have the honour of presenting to you this report as the first
chairman of the Latin American Affairs Committee of the World
Council for the Welfare of the Blind. This regional committee covers all
Latin America and the Caribbean, from Mexico to Chile and Argentina,
and the island countries on the Atlantic Ocean. The total population of
this region is approximately four hundred million inhabitants, and its
blind population reaches the figure of 1,200,000 persons, plus a partially
seeing group of 2,000,000.
But what are the characteristics of this visually limited population ?
Still a lot has to be found out about them. It may be said that half of
them live in rural areas, and half in urban conditions, and that there is
a great tendency in the rural group to move to the cities. But are they
prepared for confronting the challenging and heavy burdens of today's
development and civilization, and to integrate themselves satisfactorily
into society? In spite of the tremendous development and achievements
of the programmes and services for blindness in the region during the
last 25 years, I have to say "NO". There is still much to do in all fields,
and much of our own and foreign services are needed to do it. How
are we going to do it? With our own efforts, dedication, resources and
inner motivation, and with those of others who come to help us.
Sometimes we are too proud to ask for help, but we need it. But we
have to build for our own with our own constructing materials and with
those we do not have but can obtain from others.
Prevention of blindness programmes in Latin America and the
Caribbean have to be increased to diminish the impact of causes of
blindness in the region, because we have a high incidence of blindness
and have to do something in this respect soon, really soon.
History
The Latin American Affairs Committee was created by a resolution
of the Fifth General A.ssembly of the World Council for the Welfare
of the Blind, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1974, upon the separation of
the United States of America and Canada to form the North America
and Oceania Affairs Committee from the former Inter-American
Affairs Committee. At the time only Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala,
Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela were members of WCWB
156
in this region. Today, Argentina, Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, and
Uruguay have joined the Council and other countries are working
towards this purpose.
Since the meeting of the Committee during the Fifth General Assem-
bly, other outstanding events in which the Committee played a most
important part or made a valuable contribution should be pointed out:
The section on blindness of IRMA II (Mexico, October-November
1974), where the Latin American Organization for the Promotion of the
Blind and Visually Impaired (OLAP) began to take form; the meeting
of the first Study Group on Rehabilitation Services and Programmes
for Training Personnel for Visually Limited persons in Latin America,
called by WHO, PAHO and HKI (Washington, February-March 1975),
which produced a very important document of recommendations to
Latin American and Caribbean countries.
The constitutive Congress of the Latin American Committee for
Services to the Blind and Visually Deficient, held in Bucaramanga,
Colombia, September 1975, under the sponsorship of HKI and the
National Institute for the Blind of Colombia (INCI); the meeting of the
interim Executive of the Latin American Committee for Services to the
Blind and Visually Deficient, Committee of the Latin American Com-
mittee on Work for the Blind, Guatemala June-July 1976, sponsored
jointly by HKI and the Guatemalan National Committee for the Blind
and Deaf; the first Latin American Congress of WCWB, held in Sao
Paulo, Brazil, October 1977, under the sponsorship of the Foundation
for the Book of the Blind in Brazil, WCWB, Christoffel Blindenmission,
KHI, ONCE, WCWB Middle East Affairs Committee. During this
extraordinary Congress, not only the professionals met to up-date their
knowledge on blindness, but also the administrators, who met jointly
with the professionals to create the Latin American Organization for the
Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired. The Latin American
Affairs Committee then met to draw up its own Statutes and organize
itself as it is now, with the extraordinary help of Mr. Eric T. Bouletr,
Past President of WCWB, and special delegate of WCWB President
Boriz Zimin and the oflficers for this event.
The Latin American Affairs Committee, composed of 11 countries,
has now its own statutes, approved by the Officers of WCWB, and a
board of five: Chairman, Hernando Pradilla Cobos; Vice-Chairman,
Elisa Molina de Stahl, second Vice-Chairman, Hugo Garcia Garcilazo;
Secretary, Dorina de Gouvea Nowill and Treasurer, Lorenzo Navarro.
Not only the delegates from the member countries form part of this
committee, but also the Associate Members, Honorary Members, Life
Members and the Panamerican Council of the Blind.
The Latin American Affairs Committee is the Administrative Division
of the Latin American Organization for the Promotion of the Blind and
Visually Impaired. At the moment its Chairman is the Vice-President
of the Board of OLAP, the Vice-Chairman is the General Secretary,
the Secretary is the President, and the second Vice-Chairman and
Treasurer are voters.
This organization allows for highly efficient operation in the adminis-
trative and professional fields.
157
Achievements
First of all, we can mention the addition of five countries to the
membership list of the WCWB in the region, with a total of 15 delegates,
and the inclusion of a new associate member from Brazil.
Secondly, the creation of the Latin American Organization for the
Promotion of the Blind and Visually Impaired, which is already the
most important forum for the study, research, planning and execution
of highly qualified and efficient programmes for the benefit of the blind
and visually deficient persons in the region.
Thirdly, the motivation of other countries of the area, professionals
and organizations, to cooperate and become members of WCWB,
which is of great value for improving the conditions of this group of
citizens. ,
Expectations
Now the Latin American Aff'airs Committee of WCWB has a struc-
ture and organization and is ready to continue working much harder
than before to solve the problems of the visually limited of the region
and to work against blindness, in cooperation with the International
Agency for the Prevention of Blindness and the International Council
for the Education of the Visually Handicapped, and also with the
Panamerican Council of the Blind.
We, in Latin America and the Caribbean, need to give opportunities
to all our blind babies, children, youth, adults and old-aged to be
integrally educated, rehabilitated and integrated into society as active
participants in the development and progress of our countries, hence to
integrate themselves to their societies, therefore to live satisfactory lives
for themselves, for their families, for their country-men, for their
nations. We are ready to work for this purpose now, not only by our-
selves, but also with the help of those who love the cause, who love us,
and who have the conditions of the mind and of the heart necessary to
work in this field.
For reaching these opportunities for all, we need the help of all those
who have already solved their most significant problems and can offer
us material and human resources for this work, in order that every
country has what is needed for educating, rehabihtating, and satis-
factorily integrating the visually limited to a meaningful participation
in the life of their communities.
I appreciate your attention and kindly ask you to approve this
report as a summary of the activities of the Latin American Affairs
Committee for the period 1974-1979.
158
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS
by Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim, Chairman
1. Introduction
Five years ago The Middle East Committee for the Affairs of the
Blind presented its first report to the Fifth General Assembly of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind held in Sao Paulo, Brazil,
from August 7 to 16, 1974.
This report included the achievements and activities of the Middle
East Committee in the period prior to date of the Fifth General
Assembly. At that time only three years had just elapsed since the
establishment of the Committee.
This period of five years has been too eventful to be included in this
report in detail.
We shall therefore review the most important of our achievements.
2. The Third Conference of the Middle East Committee for the Blind
The Middle East Committee for the Blind held its Third Conference
in Damascus between July 15 and 19, 1975. Attended by the President
and the Hon. Treasurer of the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind, the representative of the Arab Organization of Education,
Science and Culture, the Secretary General of the National Federation
of the Blind in the Republic of Tunis, and the representative of the
International Labour Organization.
At the end of the Third Conference, after the discussion of all topics,
the Middle East Committee for the Blind recommended sixteen useful
recommendations.
3. The Seventeenth Conference of the Social Affairs Arab Experts
The Social Affairs A.rab Experts held their Seventeenth Conference
in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during the period from January 10 to 16, 1977.
We participated in this conference to which we submitted a report
giving an outlook of the aspects of labour and employment with
respect to the blind and handicapped in the region.
In our report, we requested that opportunities of work for the handi-
capped be ensured, particularly the already trained blind persons who
have to be placed in proper professions which suit their aptitudes. The
report also highlighted our request to enact legislations and regulations
based on an appropriate social policy for the visually handicapped
placement by opening work opportunities for them.
4. Meetings of WCWB and IFB Executive Committee
Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Crown Prince and
Deputy Premier Prince Fahd Ibn Abdul-Aziz and upon the invitation
of the Middle East Committee for the Affairs of the Blind, the Meetings
159
of both WCWB and IFB Executive Committees were held in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia from February 28 to March 5, 1977.
These meetings were attended by 70 members : 45 from WCWB with
Mr. Boris Zimin as President and 25 members from IFB with Dr.
Fatima Shah as President.
These Meetings have had a great importance and significance.
5. The Fourth Conference of the Middle East Committee for the Affairs
of the Blind
Upon an invitation from the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan, the
Fourth Conference of the Middle East Committee for the Affairs of the
Blind held its meetings in Amman during the period from 21st to 25th
Zul-Ga'adah, 1397 A.H corresponding November 2 to 6, 1977. The
Conference was attended by 112 persons representing 16 States, Non-
Governmental associations as well as 14 experts and lecturers of differ-
ent nationalities.
After having discussed all questions raised and reports presented to
the conference, 19 recommendations and resolutions were taken.
6. The lAPB First General Assembly Meeting
It was held in Oxford, England, during the period from July 6 to 8,
1978. It was attended by 31 committees out of the 49 committees of
which the lAPB is composed. It was also attended by four representa-
tives of organizations which were : Council of International Federation
of Ophthalmic Societies in Oxford, Christoffel Blindenmission. Helen
Keller International and the Royal Commonwealth Society for the
BHnd.
The Middle East Committee participated in this conference and
forwarded a report on the Prevention of Blindness.
7. Helen Keller First World Conference
Helen Keller First World Conference on Services to Deaf-Blind
Youth and Adults was held in New York City, USA during the period
September 11-16, 1977. Delegates from 30 countries attended the con-
ference, together with representatives of most of the International and
Regional Organizations, Societies and Committees concerned with the
handicapped at large and the blind in particular.
The Middle East Committee participated in this conference, and
submitted its report.
8. Survey at 18 eye hospitals and Ophthalmic Clinics in Saudi Arabia
In the year 1975 we have arranged in collaboration with a team of
Mobile Eye Services in Pakistan to conduct a field survey of eye
diseases at some eye hospitals and clinics in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. The team arrived, a sample of patients were chosen from 18
eye hospitals, ophthalmic clinics and rural dispensaries from various
parts of the Kingdom, to collect statistical data on communicable eye
diseases and causes of their prevalence.
160
9. Cooperation with tiie International Agency for the Prevention of
Blindness
In the light of the eye diseases survey, we have contacted the lAPB,
asking for futher information about bhndness prevention.
On January 31, 1976, Sir John Wilson came to Riyadh, with Professor
Barrie Jones, of clinical ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and
Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research
on Trachoma and other Chlamydical Infections. In our meetings we
discussed with the two-member delegation affairs relating to the causes
of blindness, and briefed them on the studies already attained and
available data we collected for this purpose.
10. Inter-Regional Meeting on the Prevention of Blindness
An Interregional Meeting was convened by the World Health
Organization in Baghdad from March 29 to April 1, 1976. It was
recommended to establish a Regional Centre for the Prevention of
Blindness in the area.
11. Sub-Committee A of the Regional Committee of the Twenty-Sixth
Session
Sub-Committee A of the Regional Committee for the Eastern
Mediterranean met in Karachi, Pakistan, from October 11 to 13, 1976
where I attended this meeting on behalf of the Regional Bureau of the
Middle East Committee for the Affairs of the Blind, and as a repre-
sentative of the WCWB. A report was submitted clearly outlining the
aspired at aims of participation in the meeting, and showing the hopes
that both WCWB and Middle East Committee for the Blind depend on
the efforts of WHO and its sub-committees.
In conclusion we asserted our suggestion submitted to the Baghdad
Inter-Regional meeting for establishing a "Regional Centre for the
Prevention of Blindness".
12. The Twenty-Seventh Session of the Regional Committee
The session of sub-committee A of the Regional Committee, held
from October 10 to 13, 1977 in Kuwait, was attended by 85 representa-
tives from twenty Member States of the Region, together with repre-
sentatives from 23 other intergovernmental, non-governmental and
national organizations. I attended this session on behalf of the Middle
East Committee for the Blind, and as a representative of both WCWB
and lAPB. In my report introduced to the meeting, there was an
article about WCWB and lAPB.
Particular stress on urgent matters relating to eye safety was also
included in the report.
13. The Twenty-Eighth Session of the Regional Committee
Sub-Committee A of the Twenty-Eighth Session of the Regional
Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean met in Manama, Bahrain,
from October 9 to 12, 1978.
161
A detailed report was introduced including all activity aspects we
have carried out in the field of Prevention of Blindness at the Inter-
national and National levels.
14. Meeting of the Technical Committee on Prevention of Blindness
At the invitation of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Office, Alexandria,
the Technical Committee on Prevention of Blindness, convened in
Alexandria from June 12 to 14, 1978. The meeting was attended by
Professors and Experts in Ophthalmology from Pakistan, Sudan, Iraq,
Kuwait, Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as Dr. A. H. Taba,
Director of Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, Alexandria; Dr.
M. L. Tarizzo, Programme Manager, Prevention of Blindness, WHO
Headquarters, Geneva ; and myself. The Technical Committee presents
recommendations on prevention of blindness.
Thus we managed to make the right approach to the execution of the
project through continuous efforts exerted during the last three years.
Many recommendations of significance and effectiveness were issued
on the causes leading to blindness.
The objective of the Middle East Committee for the Blind and its
Regional Bureau has always been to uplift the level of services rendered
to the blind in the area of cultural, educational, tuitional and social
aspects.
THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT
1. A Second Training Course at AI-Noor Institute in Bahrain
A second training course for teachers of Al-Noor Institute for the
Blind in Bahrain (August 1-15, 1975). This course was held in co-
operation with International Council for the Education of the Visually
Handicapped (ICEVH). This four-week course, was attended by 35
teachers (males and females), all working at Al-Noor Institute for the
Blind in Bahrain.
2. Seminar on the Education of the Teachers in the Special Institutes for
the visually handicapped in Saudi Arabia
In cooperation with the Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia and
the International Council for the Education of the Visually Handicapped,
we held a seminar in Riyadh for the teachers in the Special Institutes
for the Visually Handicapped in Saudi Arabia as it includes the greatest
number of Institutes for the Blind in the Middle East Region. In order
to enable the largest possible number of the blind to benefit from this
seminar, we decided to hold it during summer vacation. The number of
participants in this course which lasted four weeks was 55 (40 male and
15 female teacher trainees).
3. Paediatric Seminar
It was held in three provinces in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
during the period from March 15 to 21, 1978. In Jeddah, King Abdul-
162
Aziz University Hall (from March 15 to 16). In Riyadh, Riyadh Univer-
sity Hall (from March 18 to 19). In Dammam, King Faisal University
Hall (from March 20 to 21). It was attended by paediatricians, doctors,
as well as professors and students of medicine in each university. A
team of world experts and doctors of wide repute participated in the
course.
4. Optacon Training Course
It was held at Al-Noor Institute in the State of Bahrain (from
January 7 to 31, 1978) in collaboration with the producing company of
Optacon equipment, i.e. Telesensory Systems Inc., of USA. The trainees
consisted of a number of boys and girls from the academic division in
the institute.
The programme plan was applied under the supervision of two
ladies, namely Mrs. Dale H. Denson and Mrs. Rihab Addajani.
IN THE FIELD OF TRAINING AND REHABILITATION
THE REGIONAL CENTRE FOR REHABILITATION AND
TRAINING OF THE BLIND GIRLS IN JORDAN
It was established in Amman, Jordan and opened in the academic
year 1974-1975 A.D. The centre presently incorporates 60 girl trainees.
In 1977 a group of 16 trainees was first graduate from the centre,
followed by another group of eight girls, who graduated in 1978.
Production of well-manufactured woollen clothes increased from 212
pieces to 800 pieces yearly of different patterns. There are now 30
knitting machines in the centre.
2. Vocational Division at Al-Noor Institute in Bahrain
This division was opened and annexed to Al-Noor Institute in
Bahrain in the academic year 1975-1976 A.D. for training the adult
blind whose ages range between 18 and 35 years. The number of
trainees admitted to the vocational is division has so far amounted to 50
students. The division is composed of three vocational workshops. The
production yield of this division is steadily progressing, having been
marketed since 1976. It includes 35 kinds of brooms, brushes and
drawing materials, besides 27 kinds of furniture and wicker work.
3. The sheltered Workshop for the Blind
The Middle East Committee for the BHnd adopted the recom-
mendation No. 4 of the Third Conference held in Damascus in 1975
stipulating that a sheltered workshop for the blind be established in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Contacts have been made with the officials
concerned in the Saudi Government to obtain their approval as to the
estabhshment of the workshop and the land area on which it will be
set up. The Royal consent to the project was finally issued. The govern-
ment will bear the cost of the project which is estimated at
US SI 2,220,000. The workshop is to be annexed to the vocational
163
rehabilitation centres, already existing in some of the main cities in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the supervision of the Ministry of
Labour and Social Affairs, for the interest of the handicapped at large
and the blind in particular.
IN THE CULTURAL FIELD
1. Braille Press
It was established on an assigned pavilion annexed to the building of
the Regional Bureau in Riyadh. It started production in August 1974,
to ensure the embossed transcriptions and publications. Thus our
Braille Press has been set up to provide most of the institutes of the
blind in member states with scientific and cultural books, school text
books, and other needed publications.
Al-Fajr monthly magazine is regularly issued by our Braille Press
as an intellectual literary magazine transcribed in embossed characters.
So far 54 issues of this magazine have appeared of which hundreds of
copies have been circulated. It is usually issued in 450-500 copies to
450 subscribers; 200 locals and 250 outside.
2. The Talking Book Library
It was established in September 1975. This proved to be one of the
best means for further culture for the visually handicapped,
through the most up-to-date media of information. The books which
have been recorded on tapes up to now are 220 on various cultural
and scientific subjects. These books have been recorded on 188 cas-
settes. We can fairly say that 't has played a significant role, in addition
to Braille transcribed books, in serving 311 subscribers, so far. The
Talking Book Library has furthermore 8,000 cassettes and 600 receivers
to cover the requirements of 600 beneficiaries.
The Committee's Activities in the Field of Aids
The activities of the Middle East Committee and its Regional
Bureau have covered all domains of services which are usually rendered
for the visually handicapped. Even financial aids were given due
attention by the Middle East Committee, being extended in the form
of assistance or contributions or subscription.
The aids amounts extended by the Middle East Committee to various
organizations in some countries all over the world, during the period
(1974-1978) have totalled US $12,955,617— out of which US $438,293
was granted directly from the budget of the Regional Bureau while a
sum of US $12,288,753 was granted by the rightful Government of
Saudi Arabia and the remaining US $228,571 was granted by the
rightful Government of Qatar.
The fact remains that all these aids have been approved and granted
upon the recommendations and good offices of the Regional Bureau.
On the other hand, the total contributions of the five financing
member states to the Regional Bureau amounted duiing this given
period to US $12,351,537, mainly spent on the projects adopted by the
164
Middle East Committee since its establishment in 1973 up to 1978. It is
well known that the five member states which cover the budget of the
Regional Bureau of the Middle East Committee for the Blind are:
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait
and Bahrain.
165
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON
NORTH AMERICAN AND OCEANIAN AFFAIRS
by Ross C. Purse, Chairman
Since its creation in 1974, the North America Oceania Region,
WCWB has successfully undertaken the necessary steps to become an
integral part of the world organization. Its membership, consisting of
representatives from Australia, New Zealand, United States and
Canada have enthusiastically embraced the concepts and objectives of
the world body and are laying the necessary foundation to establish a
strong and effective arm within the global framework.
The similarities in cultural, economic, language and philosophies in
work for the blind noticeably complemented our regional development
and indeed these factors have provided a concrete base from which to
build an effective and positive programme.
During the past five years, it has been my privilege and pleasure to
visit and dialogue with our member countries and, without question, I
have received a high degree of cooperation and enthusiasm throughout
the region.
Detailed reports of national activities may be obtained from WCWB
Secretariat in Paris. I will, however, take this opportunity of high-
lighting a few of the major developments of their combined under-
takings.
The North America Oceania Region constitution has been approved
by our Regional Committee and is now in the hands of the Honorary
Officers for ratification. We regard it as a sound document, worthy of
their support and workable within our region. In conformity with the
requirements of that Constitution the region has appointed a Vice-
Chairman in the person of John W. Wilson, Australian National
Council of and for the Blind. The region has developed a newsletter
under the direction of Loyal E. Apple, Executive Director of the
American Foundation for the Blind as an ongoing link between member
countries. This bi-annual publication highlights new developments as
they occur throughout the region. In my view, this sharing of informa-
tion will play an important role in keeping the regional members
informed on all important developments.
During the 1976 Habitat Conference held in Vancouver, British
Columbia, I arranged a CNIB representation to highlight programmes
under the auspices of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind.
This included affixing the WCWB stamp on pertinent pamphlets
distributed at the exhibit area.
Our region has established a sub-committee under the chairmanship
of Mr. Arthur Copeland, United States Association for Blind Athletes,
to cooperate with and help implement the growing activities of the
WCWB Committee on Sports Activities. The initial contact between
the regional committee and its international counterpart is producing
166
positive and meaningful results in stimulating and coordinating swim-
ming and aquatic sports among the blind.
The North America Oceania Region is mindful and appreciative of
the activities planned for the International Year of the Child and
member countries have developed programmes to promote activities in
support of a better understanding of the special problems of blind
children throughout the world.
It has been a distinct privilege to serve as the first chairman of this
new region. It has been a rewarding experience. I would be remiss if I
did not express my personal appreciation to the President of the World
Council, Colonel Boris Zimin, the Honorary Secretary General, Mr.
Anders Arnor and the Honorary Officers for their help and advice in
all matters pertaining to the welfare of the blind.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to personally recognize the
officers and members of the North America Oceania Region who have
assisted me in the shaping and development of our regional work
within ^he WCWB terms of reference.
167
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 7
INTERDISCIPLINARY COOPERATION IN
PREVENTING BLINDNESS
Monday morning, August 6, 1979
Chairman: Sir John Wilson, C.B.E., United Kingdom
.■ . . . ." , y . ' . ... -
REPORT ON THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS AND ON
WCVVB PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF THE INTER-
NATIONAL AGENCY FOR THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS
by Sir John Wilson, C.B,E., President, lAPB
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness was formed
on January 1, 1975 on the initiative of the world organizations con-
cerned with blindness and with ophthalmology. Participation of WCWB
in the new Agency had been approved at the Sao Paulo General
Assembly and, on the nomination of WCWB, the following are now
members of the Agency's Executive Board :
Colonel Boris Zimin
(Alternate: Mr. J. C. CoUigan)
Sir John Wilson
(Alternate: Mr. E. T. Boulter)
Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim
(Alternate: Dr. J. Cookey-Gam)
Dr. Susan Pettiss
(Alternate: Mr. H. G. Roberts)
Dr. Fatima Shah
(Alternate: Mr. R. Alagiyawanna).
The Executive Board meets annually and the Agency's First General
Assembly — attended by representatives of national committees from
44 countries — met in Oxford, England, July 6-8, 1978. At that General
Assembly, the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind was re-
quested to continue, for another lOur vears, to pro > id-;, with finan •'?!
s'pco;' i^m the Pitish Government, an administrative base for the
Agency. The Agency has nine regional committees.
During these last four years, there have been notable developments
in the scope and priority of international action for the prevention of
bhndness. The developments, which have frequently been reported in
the WCWB news bulletins and in bhnd welfaie literatuie, are sum-
marized in the lAPB news-sheet for December 1978, English copies of
168
which will be available at the Antwerp Assembly. Here, for reasons of
space, it is impossible to do more than summarize the main develop-
ments.
1. National Committees. Representative national organizations, acting
as the focus of national interest in blindness prevention and appointing
the national delegation to lAPB, now exist in 54 countries. Most of
these committees, like lAPB itself, result from partnership betv^een
organizations of and for the blind, ophthalmic organizations and
government. Already in a number of countries, national multi-
disciplinary organizations have developed, promoting impressive
national and international programmes. The Agency is grateful to
WCWB and its component organizations for the support they have
given.
2. WHO. The World Health Organization, with which the Agency has
official relationship, is the central force in United Nations action for
health. Successive resolutions of the World Health Assembly have
expanded World Health action for the prevention of blindness, which
has now been recognized as one of the priorities of WHO's global
technical cooperation programme. This enhanced priority has resulted
in the establishment, at the Geneva Headquarters, of an internationally
representative Programme Advisory Group, sub-groups and task forces.
Specific budget funds have been appropriated and special staff have
been appointed both at WHO Headquarters and in some regional
offices. With the theme "Foresight Prevents Blindness", World Health
Day 1976 drew international attention to the mounting menace of
blindness throughout the developing world and to the existence of a
technology for controlling that problem at a level of cost effectiveness
which makes this one of the most advantageous options in world health
policy. During that World Health Year, national campaigns for the
prevention of blindness were reported from over 80 member states.
3. Regional Action. Regional meetings of WHO and other UN agencies
— in which spokesmen of the Agency and WCWB have frequently
participated — have greatly extended interest in blindness prevention.
There have been regional and intergovernmental meetings — on global
strategy in Baghdad 1976; on action to prevent blindness and parti-
cularly curable bhndness in Asia, held in New Delhi in 1977 and 1978;
on action against communicable eye disease in the Middle East, held in
Riyadh, Kuwait, and Alexandria 1977 and 1978; on Pan American
cooperation 1978. The intergovernmental programme in West Africa
for the control of onchocerciasis is now in its fourth year of full opera-
tion and could well form the prototype of other regional programmes
now being developed against different blinding diseases.
4. National Action. Many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America
have now adopted national plans for the prevention of blindness. The
Indian national plan, with its massive objective of eliminating needless
blindness over 20 years, has attracted international interest. Other
169
examples of national planning in Asia are Bangladesh, Burma, In-
donesia, Pakistan and Thailand. In Africa, national plans are in
progress in Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Mali, Sudan, Senegal and
Tanzania, In Latin America, national plans are in progress in Brazil,
Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Argentina, and in the Caribbean an
Inter-Island Eye Service has begun. Parallel with these developments is
the mobilisation of governmental and other resources in support of
national plans: notably President Carter's Statement in May 1978
identifying the prevention of blindness as a priority of US global health
strategy; the intention of the Arab Gulf States to finance a regional
programme against trachoma and the communicable eye diseases; the
Australian Government's interest in blindness prevention in the Pacific
and South-East Asia; Scandinavian aid for programmes in Africa and
Asia; Japanese aid in South-East Asia; large international programmes
sponsored from the German Federal Republic and the United Kingdom.
WHO has established a special account for the prevention of blindness
within the voluntary fund for health promotion.
5. Priorities. WHO and the Agency have identified four major priorities
in the developing world — onchocerciasis, trachoma, xerophthalmia and
cataract. In an extended list of priorities, the Agency has added glau-
coma, eye injuries and rubella which are substantial problems in some
regions. In the advanced countries, emphasis is laid on research against
diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa and
hereditary blinding conditions. To be effective, strategy must concen-
trate against conditions which cause mass blindness (trachoma,
xerophthalmia, onchocerciasis), where well-established technology can
be applied at low cost (cataract) or where there is the likehhood of an
imminent research breakthrough.
6. Personnel. Throughout most of the developing countries the main
limitation is lack of trained personnel : ophthalmologists, nutritionists,
epidemiologists, public health workers, and supporting teams of
auxiliary workers. Major attention is therefore now being given, in
national and regional plans, to personnel training and to a clearer
definition of the role of various levels of staff. Perhaps the greatest
advance of the past few years is the recognition that the prevention of
blindness is not just a department of ophthalmology, but requires
multidisciplinary cooperation within the context of mass dehvery, and
the development of a new discipline of eye care grafted on to basic
health services throughout the developing world. This emphasis on
staff" training will be one of the main features of the next few years.
7. Objective. The Agency, at its Oxford Assembly, and WHO, in recent
strategy documents, have stated a common objective. It is, within a
limited time scale, to eliminate the "overburden of avoidable blindness".
This implies concentration on those countries and communities where
blindness now exists on a scale far exceeding international averages.
Action is conceived in terms of an initial "attack" phase of about five
years followed perhaps by a decade of consolidation by the end of
170
which preventable bhndness should have been reduced to a point where
it could henceforward be controlled by ordinary medical services.
Throughout the developing world, the objective is to break the link
between blindness and population growth and, in the advanced coun-
tries, to break the link between blindness and ageing. Such objectives
are the aim of strategies now being implemented against onchocerciasis
in West Africa ; trachoma in parts of the Middle East, the Soviet Union
and Australia; cataract in the Indian sub-continent; xerophthalmia in
Asia. In the international strategy generally we are thinking in terms of
a timescale of 20 years.
8. Statistics. A Task Force on the Prevalence of Blindness met in
Geneva in November 1978. On the basis of admittedly inadequate
information, it concluded that there are likely in the world today to be
from 28 million to 42 million blind people according to whether the
definition of blindness is placed at 3/60ths (20/400)— which is the WHO
criterion for international comparison — or 6/60ths (20/200) — which is
the standard generally used in the Americas. If effective action is taken
against the priority causes mentioned above, it is reasonable to expect
that these figures could be halved over the next twenty years. If effective
action is not taken, the number will at least double by the end of this
century. The two most striking estimates are that throughout much of
Asia more than half the blindness is curable and that the number of
children now losing their sight annually from blinding malnutrition is
in the order of 250,000.
9. Conclusion. The Agency would like to thank WCWB, its national
and international members, for the leadership and support they have
given since the Sao Paulo Assembly to the establishment of the Agency
and its national committees and for the encouragement they have given
to international action for the prevention of blindness.
171
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF RESEARCH ON
REDUCING WORLD BLINDNESS
by Dr. Carl Kupfer
Director, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
It is indicative of the World Council's foresight and corrtmitment to
the welfare of the blind that a session on the prevention of blindness
has been included on the agenda for this Assembly. Surely, the attack
on global blindness must proceed on many fronts.
First, we must provide adequately for the economic, social, and
cultural needs of those already blind. Second, we must make a con-
certed effort to prevent blindness when and where the knowledge and
technology exists for doing so. And third, we must strive to expand our
knowledge of the causes of blindness so that in the future, we will be
able to prevent even more people from becoming blind and restore
sight to those with blinding disorders we now consider incurable.
The key to the future is research. Research has made cataract surgery
one of the most successful operations performed. Research has trans-
formed the primary treatment of glaucoma from surgical to medical.
It has been through research that the cause of retrolental fibroplasia
was identified and, very recently, that the efficacy of photocoagulation
in preventing blindness from diabetic retinopathy was definitively
established. Today, research is making significant contributions to our
understanding of such diseases as retinitis pigmentosa and macular
degeneration. For the first time there is real hope for the ultimate
conquest of these disorders.
At last year's Oxford Assembly of the International Agency for the
Prevention of Blindness, which Sir John has referred to in his chairman's
report, I presented some data indicating a significant increase in world
blindness over the next 50 years. This morning, I would like to sum-
marize these data, but at the same time indicate why recent develop-
ments in vision research off"er hope that these projections will not be
borne out.
By the year 2030 — 50 years from now — the total population of the
United States is expected to increase by somewhat less than 50 per cent.
But the number of people in the United States over age 55 will increase
by 123 per cent, and those over age 85 will increase by about 300
per cent.
The four leading causes of blindness in the United States are cataract,
senile macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma — all
ageing-related disorders. Therefore, with an expansion in the older age
groups, blindness from these causes could be expected to increase by
an average of more than 160 per cent by the year 2030.
Clearly, such an increase in blindness in the United States — and by
inference in Canada and Europe — would seriously affect organizations
172
that aid the bhnd and, of course, have tragic consequences for the
affected individuals and their famihes.
In developing nations, populations are expected to triple between the
years 1970 and 2025. This fact alone suggests a major increase in
blindness in developing nations from causes which are not ageing-
related, causes such as ocular infections, bhnding malnutrition, blinding
filaria, and ocular accidents. But since the number of people in these
developing countries aged 55 and over will incresLse five-fold in the next
50 years, here too we are likely to see a significant upsurge in the preva-
lence of cataract and glaucoma. In addition, we may witness a major
increase in the prevalence of chronic retinal disorders, which are
presently the leading causes of blindness among many developed
nations. Thus, we face the prospect of an increase in blindness which is
now preventable — as well as an increase in blinding eye disorders for
which means of prevention are currently lacking and for which methods
of treatment are inadequate, difficult, expensive, or simply unavailable.
These projections, of course, are based on the hypotheses: (1) that
no significant action will be taken over the next five decades to control
the causes of blindness which we are now capable of preventing or
alleviating, and (2) that no further scientific advances will be made. In
both respects, however, we have much cause for optimism. First of all,
we are fortunate in having such organizations as the World Council for
the Welfare of the Blind, the International Agency for the Prevention
of Blindness, and the World Health Organization, all of which have
already made outstanding progress in alerting the nations of the world
to the extent of the global blindness problem and in fostering effective
programs to combat it.
We are also fortunate in having a growing cadre of talented scientists
throughout the world who have dedicated themselves to improving our
ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat blinding eye disorders. As one
indication of the remarkable growth in this field, the number of research
grants provided by the National Eye Institute to vision scientists in the
United States and abroad has increased from 350 to about 1,100 over
the past decade.
A large part of this research effort is aimed at the prevention of
blindness, but increasingly, attention is also being given to studies
which promise improved rehabilitation of those who are already blind.
Of course, cataract surgery is one of the most dramatic and frequently
used means of visual rehabilitation. Thanks to research, we are now
able to help cataract patients for whom surgery would have been
considered too hazardous just a few years ago.
Research has also resulted in a dramatic improvement in the success
rate of corneal transplantation in high lisk cases — from about 10 per
cent in 1969 to 60 per cent today. Currently, progress is being made in
overcoming the immunological problems which still limit the usefulness
of corneal transplantation in restoring sight lost from certain kinds of
inflammatory diseases and injuries.
Vitrectomy is a surgical procedure which has been developed over the
last few years to remove the vitreous of the eye when it becomes clouded
by severe haemorrhage or scar tissue. It has proved valuable in res-
173
toring at least partial vision to thousands who have been blinded by
diabetic retinopathy. Research is now underway to see if this procedure
can be made even more effective in reducing blindness from diabetic
retinopathy and to determine if vitrectomy can be safely extended to
preventing blindness from ocular trauma. Vitrectomy may also be
useful in the treatment of severe ocular infections such as endo-
phthalmitis by making it feasible to remove infected itssue from the eye.
If further research bears out the value of these new uses for vitrectomy,
it would be of great benefit to the thousands of people throughout the
world who each year are blinded by eye injuries and infections.
Research is also being directed at helping the many people who,
although they are presently classified as blind, actually have some
capacity to see and, therefore, function better. For example, there are
studies to evaluate whether people with retinal disease could be taught
to utilize what normal retina remains to improve their vision. Such
research also includes basic studies aimed at improving our under-
standing of the normal visual process, so that we can learn how better
to restore vision that has been lost from retinal and sensorimotor
disorders.
In this regard, a number of new tests have been developed over the
past few years for the study of normal visual function in the laboratory.
These tests are far more sensitive and revealing than such traditional
measurements of visual function as visual acuity and visual field. We
are just now beginning to determine whether these new tests can help
improve our abihty to diagnose retinal and sensorimotor diseases.
With their potential for pinpointing the exact origin of a visual mal-
function, these tests may lead to improved treatment of such disorders
and to means of helping patients make the most of their remaining
vision.
Other research is aimed at development of improved electronic sight
substitution systems for reading and mobility. In the development of the
Optacon and the various reading machines now on the market, we are
witnessing only the beginning of what technology may offer in the
future to aid the blind.
Another very encouraging development in the last few years has been
the emergence of international cooperation in vision research. Formal
agreements now exist between the United States and Japan, and
between the United States and the Soviet Union, for cooperation and
scientific exchange in vision research. Inteiest in launching eye research
programs has also been expressed by representatives of the European
Economic Community, the People's Republic of China, and other
nations. In addition to accelerating the pace of vision research, these
cooperative arrangements should help ensure the rapid communication
and dissemination of new knowledge in this field for the benefit of all
the world's people.
I have spoken this morning of the great promise that research holds
for the future prevention of blindness and rehabilitation of blind people
throughout the world. I am fully confident that this promise will be
fulfilled and that the next 50 years will see progress in this field of a
kind we can hardly imagine today.
I thank you.
174
PREVENTING BLINDNESS IN AFRICA
by Dr. A. M. Awan
Senior Ophthalmic Consultant, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi
I have been asked to speak on preventing blindness in Africa.
The subject cannot be dealt with in ten minutes but I shall do my
best to confine my talk to the specified time.
Africa is a vast continent and so is blindness. The most recent
estimate is that there are some five million blind people in tropical
Africa and undoubtedly the number is increasing v^ith the population
increase. An example may be cited of Kenya. About fifteen years ago,
with nine million people, the country had about 70,000 blind persons.
With a population of fifteen million in 1978, it is estimated that there
are over 150,000 blind people.
The problem of blindness in Africa is enormous but in terms of
medical control, with the exception of onchocerciasis, which presents a
very specific problem in West Africa, most of the blindness is caused by
cataracts which are curable and infections which are treatable. For this
reason, I believe the objective set by the World Health Organization to
eradicate blindness by the end of this century is a reality. It may appear
to some that it is a task which is impossible but our experience in Kenya
teaches us that it is possible. The real problem is organization.
Kenya is unique among African nations in rural blindness prevention
and therapeutic eye care. The work is largely the result of the voluntary
organizations working through the Kenya Government's Ministry of
Health. The organizations which cooperated in the years since 1956
and which interdigitate with the Kenya Government's Ministry of
Health, include the Kenya Society for the Blind, which is the branch of
the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, the African Medical
and Research Foundation's Flying Doctor Service, the Sight by Wings,
the Professor Wave Foundation, the Christoffel Blindenmission and the
International Eye Foundation.
All eye activities are controlled by the Ministry of Health through
the National Prevention of Blindness Committee, which comprises
members from all voluntary agencies and the Committee is chaired by
the Deputy Director of Medical Services for effective control and
implementation of ophthalmic policy laid down for the Kenya
Ophthalmic Programme.
The success of the Kenya Ophthalmic Programme which primarily
aims at prevention of blindness is through well organized Mobile Eye
Units and well trained paramedical staff who run these units to about
27 centres in the country. We can be proud that we have such a body of
able and dedicated men, who are, and will continue to be, the spearhead
of all our endeavours to restore sight and prevent blindness.
175
Kenya is primarily a rural community, The majority of the tribes are
sedentary and engage in agriculture and animal husbandry. In these
areas there are extensive networks of townships, villages and roads,
schools, hospitals and medical dispensaries. These provide foci of
population concentration appropriate to remedial health programme?.
Very large geographic areas of the country are thinly populated by
pastoral and nomadic tribes and these hardy and attractive peoples are
not only difficult to reach but generally stay aloof to the influences of
western civilization.
So our programme is designed according to the needs of the country,
coincident with the expansion of the economic base and the extension
of social consciousness.
The mobile eye units see and treat about 600,000 people anually, at a
cost of under 50 cents per patient. The Kenya Ophthalmic Programme
has been running for the last 20 years. It started its mobility on a
second-hand motor cycle and today I am proud to say it has taken up
wings and our clinical officers are flown by the Flying Doctors Services
of Kenya to each nook and corner of Kenya.
It has been observed that there has been a definite decrease in the
number of cases needing eye care in those areas where we have made
repeated visits. The incidence has gone down tremendously.
Kenya is not the only country in Africa which is tackling this problem
of preventing blindness. Apart from onchocerciasis, action is also being
taken in Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, Sudan, the
Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, South
Africa and Zimbabwe.
The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is linked
with all these countries and it believes the next important step would be
a regional plan instituted in Africa. The plan, like that in other world
health regions, would basically have three components :
1. It would provide training of personnel besides ophthalmic
surgeons but to all levels of paramedical and auxiliaries — it
being done in Kenya by us.
2. It would be geared to the whole system of primary health care
throughout Africa — it being done in Kenya by us.
3. Input of funds and technological resources — fund difficulty in
Kenya.
Given such a plan, there is no doubt in my mind that within 20 years
the link between blindness and population could be broken.
I am proud of the Kenya Ophthalmic Programme. Time does not
permit me to elaborate. The effectiveness of the entire exercise in
preventing blindness in Kenya is due to a central control by the Kenya
Government's Ministry of Health and my conclusion is, dealing w*th
bhndness in Africa is to treat in a simple way and tackle common eye
problems which lead to majority blindness, i.e. the cataracts and
infections — this will treat at least 80 per cent of blindness on the conti-
nent of Africa — and this could effectively be rendered by the mobile
units of the clinical officers under the supervision of ophthalmic
surgeons with one central governmental control.
176
ATTACKING BLINDING MALNUTRITION:
Report of the Nutritional Blindness Prevention Project
in Indonesia
Presented by Susan T. Pettiss, Ph.D.
Director of Blindness Prevention, Helen Keller International
Produced by Ignatius Tarwotjo
Director of Academy of Nutrition, Jakarta, Indonesia
and
Alfred Sommer, M.D.
Helen Keller Project Scientist
Introduction
It is estimated that each year as many as 25,000 children in Asia
alone are victims of nutritional blindness — the disease with the tongue-
twisting name "xerophthalmia", the first sign of which is night-
blindness.
Xerophthalmia is caused by a lack of vitamin A needed for the
healthy development of the eye. It is often associated with malnutrition.
Those most vulnerable to the disease are preschool children (under six
years) in tropical countries where the diet is chiefly rice, white maize,
cassava, or other starchy foods — children who do not get enough food,
and who do not eat the right kind of food. Periods of weaning and
illness are especially critical, since the vitamin A level in the body can
be depleted either by insufficient vitamin intake or by fighting infection.
Although the geograph'cal region of highest prevalence seems to be
Asia, documentation suggests existence of pockets of the disease in
other regions, sometimes on a seasonal basis or in times of drought or
disaster. Past stud'es have also indicated that xerophthalmia may be a
significant public health problem in such West African countries as
Ghana, Mali, Senegal, and Upper Volta.
Problem in Indonesia
Nutritional blindness has long been recognized as a serious problem
in Indonesia. In 1972 the Government initiated a limited program for
distribution of high dose vitamin A capsules as an emergency measure
in geographic areas where the problem was considered most severe. In
the same year collaborative arrangements were made with Helen Keller
International (then called the American Foundation for Overseas
Blind) to evaluate the impact, cost and efficiency of this pilot program.
The results indicated that while regular administration of capsules
177
reduced the occurrence of mild fonns of xerophthalmia, there was a
need for further intensive study in order to identify causal factors and
more sharply define the population at greatest risk.
Nutritional Blindness Prevention Research
Subsequently, in June of 1975, the Indonesian Ministry of Health
undertook to explore, along with representatives of Helen Keller
International, the possibility of carrying out a large research project
aimed at answering major, practical questions that remained obstacles
to the development of a national nutritional blindness prevention
program.
These included, among others :
(1) What are the underlying causes of xerophthalmia and nutritional
blindness, and the relative contributions of vitamin A deficiency,
protein deficiency, and systemic diseases in their etiology ?
(2) What is the magnitude and geographic distribution of the prob-
lem throughout the major population areas in Indonesia and which of
those areas have child populations at greatest risk of disease?
(3) What is the simplest, safest, most practical and eff'ective form of
vitamin A treatment?
(4) Is it possible to identify one or more food items eaten by a
significant proportion of children with xerophthalmia which might be
practically fortified with vitamin A ?
(5) What are the reasons xerophthalmic children do not, at present,
eat sufficient quantities of vitamin or pro-vitamin A rich foods ?
Commencing in September 1976 and continuing until June 1979, a
large-scale investigation into the origins of vitamin A deficiency and
nutritional blindness, and what might be done to prevent them has
been carried out. The project was under the auspices of the Indonesian
Ministry of Health with technical assistance from Helen Keller Inter-
national, and significant financial assistance provided by the United
States Agency for International Development. Although continuing
data analysis will provide a clearer picture of the disease and its preven-
tion, program development has already begun on the basis of research
findings already available and summarized in this report. A detailed,
scientific presentation of all relevant analysis will be issued during the
coming year. It is believed that results of this research in Indonesia will
have global relevance in the fight to eradicate this preventable type of
bhndness by the year 2000 — the goal set by WHO.
Research Findings
The preliminary analysis of data from the studies has suggested the
following findings :
(1) All forms of xerophthalmia are associated with vitamin A deficiency
and heal rapidly when treated with vitamin A. By implication, almost all
of the disease can be prevented if the children receive sufficient vitamin A
in their diets.
178
(2) Xerophthalmia and nutritional blindness constitute a significant
public health problem throughout Indonesia.
(3) Although xerophthalmia and nutritional blindness are significant
problems throughout Indonesia, the populations of some areas are at
higher risk than those of others.
(4) Vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia occur in clusters within
localities.
Although this is an area requiring further analysis, it is already clear
that xerophthalmia is not spread uniformly throughout the population
but occurs in "clusters". What this indicates is that normal children
living in the immediate neighbourhood of xerophthalmic children are
more likely to be vitamin A deficient than normal children living
further away.
(5) The vast majority of xerophthalmia cases occur in the rural
population.
Rates in the rural areas were usually greater than those of even the
urban slums and 85 per cent of the population lives in the rural country-
side. Nonetheless, the high level of disease among slum dwelling urban
children points to a significant problem in these populations.
(6) Approximately 55,000 Indonesian children develop potentially
blinding corneal xerophthalmia every year.
The total number for Indonesia as a whole, which would include
urban children and older individuals not included in these studies and
calculations would be still higher. Results of studies suggest between
half and two-thirds (roughly 30 to 40 thousand) of these will suffer
significant, permanent visual loss in one or both eyes, primarily the
latter.
(7) Xerophthalmia can be treated just as effectively with oral vitamin
A as with injectable vitamin A.
WHO presently recommends that active xerophthalmia be treated
with an immediate injection of 100,000 lU of vitamin A in water
miscible followed the next day by an oral dose of a massive dose vitamin
A capsule. But clinical research indicates that the 200,000 lU vitamin A
capsule administered by mouth on the first day is just as effective as the
use of the injection.
(8) Ideal vitamin A treatment requires at least three doses o/200,000 lU
orally: immediately upon admission to a hospital or clinic, the following
day and 1-2 weeks later.
Most children treated with either an injection or oral capsule on
admission to a hospital or clinic and again the following day responded
rapidly. However, a significant proportion of the patients with severe,
generalized malnutrition in both groups either responded slowly or
suffered early relapse. Since no evidence of toxicity was ever en-
countered, it suggests an additional third capsule be administered after
1-2 weeks, though this particular regimen was not actually tested.
(9) Measles is an important precipitating event in xerophthalmia,
especially for blinding forms of corneal destruction.
Although measles is considered the primary cause of childhood
179
blindness in Africa, it has not been traditionally considered an important
cause of blindness in Indonesia. Yet roughly 20 per cent of the corneal
cases seen in the research with classical active xerophthalmia/kerato-
malacia either had active measles, or a history of measles 2-4 weeks
preceding the onset of their eye disease. This strongly suggests measles
can in fact precipitate xerophthalmia, either directly, or secondarily
through alternations in dietary intake, etc., and is a problem in
Indonesia.
(10) Green leafy vegetables are regularly used by the vast majority of
families of xerophthalmic children.
Over 80 per cent of families of xerophthalmic children surveyed
consume green leafy vegetables at least once a day and 99 per cent at
least once a week. This indicates special horticultural activities are not
widely needed, since green leafy vegetable, a potent source of provitamin
A, are apparently available to these families. Instead, efforts will have
to be made to change dietary habits, by encouraging increased con-
sumption of these available vegetables by preschool-age children.
{11) A majority of xerophthalmic children consume items potentially
fortifiahle with vitamin A.
Three potentially fortifiable foodstuffs were found to be consumed
by a majority of xerophthalmic children surveyed on a regular basis:
wheat, refined sugar and monosodium glutamate (MSG).
Recommendations
1. Vitamin A deficiency, xerophthalmia and nutritional blindness is a
massive problem in Indonesia requiring urgent action.
2. Although xerophthalmia is a significant problem throughout the
country, areas of particularly high risk have been identified in which
emergency measures should probably be undertaken immediately if
resources prevent addressing the entire country at once as a whole.
3. Three potential forms of prevention activities are already recognized,
and working groups should begin to prepare plans and estimate
potential benefits and costs for each :
(a) fortification of either wheat, refined sugar or MSG. While each
is eaten by a majority of xerophthalmic children, the amount
varies from area to area, as does the cost and potential benefit
of each item.
(b) nutrition education programs need to be designed along locally
appropriate lines and integrated into planned and existing health
and nutrition education programs.
(c) administration of 200,000 lU vitamin A capsules every 4-6
months of pre-school children will, in most instances, prevent
xerophthalmia and nutritional blindness. Wherever possible
their distribution should be incorporated into primary health
care/village health-nutrition worker programs. Where such
programs do not presently exist, special single purpose workers
programs, as in the original distribution scheme, may be needed
in high risk areas.
180
4. Since vitamin A deficiency and xerophthalmia occur in neighbour-
hood clusters, it is probably effective and cost-efficient to treat all
children residing in the same locale as a case of clinical disease rather
than only the case itself. This may require that a special outreach
program be established at clinics encountering large numbers of cases.
This outreach program could provide nutrition education to the com-
munity at the same time as delivering the capsules.
5. The high proportion of blinding xerophthalmia seemingly precipi-
tated by measles suggests that measles vaccination (beginning in high
risk areas), may help reduce the problem significantly.
6. Since optimal vitamin A therapy can be provided by the use of oral
large dose vitamin A capsules, there is no need to produce or import
expensive water miscible injectable vitamin A or the needles and
syringes required for its use. It is imperative, however, that these
capsules be supplied in adequate quantities to all hospitals, clinics and
field workers, and that these personnel be trained in recognizing the
disease and its treatment. Since there is no need for the oil miscible
injectable preparations, consideration might be given to its removal
from the market.
7. A simple xerophthalmia monitoring and surveillance system should
be established as soon as possible as a means of evaluating the effective-
ness of intervention program activities.
8. Further data analysis should be carried out during the coming year
to provide answers to the major questions still outstanding: the role of
measles, diarrheal illnesses, weaning, protein-calorie malnutrition and
dietary practices as contributing factors in the development of xeroph-
thalmia; the duration of protection afforded by the 200,000 lU vitamin
A capsules ; the frequency with which xerophthalmic children consume
potentially fortifiable foodstuffs and the reasons for not consuming
larger amounts of vitamin A and provitamin A-rich foods; and the
ecologic and socio-economic environment within which the disease
arises.
181
MASS TREATMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF SIGHT
by Dr. Rajendra T. Vyas, M.A., LL.B., Ph.D.
Regional Representative (South Asia), Royal Commonwealth Society
for the Blind, Honorary Secretary, National Association for the Blind,
India
1. Most of us gathered here have been concerned for decades with
services for those who are incurably blind. Very few of us realized
till recently that two-thirds of the world's blind, especially in the
developing countries, would never have lost sight had they received
timely attention and treatment.
2. In recent times, more particularly since the mid-60's, attention has
been drawn to the fact that timely action and treatment would not
only result in the avoidance of unnecessary misery arising out of
preventable and curable blindness but would also obviate the
necessity of setting up rehabilitation services for those unneces-
sarily blinded, and would thus save thousands of dollars that go
into the providing of educational and vocational services for the
blinded.
3. It is a contradiction of our age and times that while mechanism
exists to prevent preventable and cure curable blindness, millions
go blind and remain blind till they die.
4. Seventeen million people of the world are disabled by cataract.
Each year 1.25 million are added to this list, their vision being lost
due to cataract.
5. It is a well-established fact that thousands nay millions are bMnd.
and even become blind with the passage of time, due to no fault of
theirs. These men, women and children are doomed to lead a life of
destitution, degradation and deprivation due to circumstances
completely controllable by human efforts and endeavour.
6. Cataract, completely curable though not yet preventable, is res-
ponsible for the blindness of at least five million people in India
and seventeen million people throughout the world. Trachoma,
which if left untreated would result in total blindness, is completely
curable. Is it not a pity that it has blinded two miUion people for
Hfe time, and a hundred million people have serious visual limitation
as its after effects ? Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) left thousands
sightless in West Africa. Glaucoma is responsible for twenty per
cent of the world's bhndness, and one per cent of all these over the
age of forty years may have chronic open angle glaucoma. Kerato-
malacia in Asia affects 100,000 children each year, and on a global
basis it afflicts twenty children in every 10,000 children between one
to six years of age. Of those affected, half die because of severe
182
malnutrition. Tt is encouraging to note that greater awareness now
prevails on the part of those concerned with work for the blind
both at Government and non-Government level, to take steps to
prevent and treat preventable and treatable types of blindness.
7. Problem: While technology does exist to eliminate preventable and
curable blindness, more than scarcity of finance, the appalling
paucity of ophthalmic and para-ophthalmic personnel and the
great dearth of hospital accommodation in developing countries,
are factors responsible for the ever-increasing incidence of blind-
ness. How grave is the situation, is apparent from the fact that for a
vast country such as India having a population of seven hundred
milhon people, they have only about four thousand ophthalmic
surgeons and twelve thousand ophthalmic beds. Contrast this with
the staggering figure of five million people blind simply because
ophthalmic services cannot reach them to perform a cataract
operation which just takes three minutes. Bangladesh, with a
population of over a hundred million people, has hardly 30 oph-
thalmic surgeons and not more than 300 ophthalmic beds in
hospitals. For the whole of Africa, they have three hundred eye
doctors where an estimated number of three million people need
cataract surgery. Again, while the great majority of the aff'ected
people live in villages and rural areas, the ophthalmic surgeons and
eye hospitals limited as they are in number, are concentrated in
towns, far, far away for a villager to reach them.
8. Mass treatment only alternative:
Do these seventeen million cataract blind people, most of whom
live in developing countries have to remain blind till they die?
There is no possibility that fully fledged ophthalmic services would
spring up during their lifetime. The one and only approach is
'MASS TREATMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF SIGHT',
to be provided through an Eye Camp approach.
9. To understand the working of eye camp, let us visit one in a typical
Indian village. By the only available railway train, you arrive at a
railway station at an unearthly hour of 4 a.m. You are picked up
by a Land-Rover presented to the organizers of the eye camp by the
Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind. Driving through
dusty and bumpy roads for about three hours, you arrive at the site
of the eye camp, some 80 km away, you are surrounded by a sea of
humanity. Men, women and children, some clad, some half-clad,
have all congregated for their day of deliverance. So great is the
rush of patients that tents have been erected to provide them with
accommodation.
10. The local school building has been converted into a temporary eye
hospital. Desks and tables have been removed, rooms washed and
prepared for the patients. The local villagers come forward to serve
as volunteers, patients queue up in the school compound for regis-
tration. Some come walking from miles away, some use the bullock
cart, while others come by buses, all of them praying that they
183
would get back their sight. A team of doctors who have donated
their time and skill examine the patients in an improvised dark
room and select them for surgery. The operation theatre made out
of the school assembly room, has six ophthalmic surgeons operating
simultaneously. The moment the patient is operated, volunteers
quickly take him away to the large tent-wards on a stretcher and
other volunteers bring in a new patient. At the end of the day which
began at 7 a.m. altogether 240 men and women are operated for
cataract. At the end of this eye camp which had lasted for two weeks
altogether 6,915 eye patients were examined and treated, and of
these 2,273 people completely blind due to cataract had their sight
restored. The organizers ran a free kitchen to provide breakfast,
lunch, and dinner to patients and each escort, which almost
totalled five thousand people per day, and all this was free of charge.
This, the Bagidhora eye camp in the Indian State of Rajasthan,
was one of the large eye camps supported by the Royal Common-
wealth Society for the Blind. All eye camps are not as large. In
most of the eye camps the total number of patients examined and
treated range bet\\'een five hundred to two thousand and those
operated on are about two hundred to three hundred.
11. Mobile Ophthalmic Unit:
Yet another effective adjunct to eye camps is the provision of
mobile ophthalmic units equipped v/ith necessary surgical instru-
ments and drugs. These units are in a way an extended arm of a
base eye hospital to reach remote villages whose inhabitants for
want of money and facilities cannot visit centres for eye treatment.
12. National Plan:
The Government of India have evolved a bold and imaginative
National Plan for the Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment.
Under this programme mobile ophthalmic units will eventually
cover the rural areas of India and base hospitals in the rural areas
will be set up to provide ophthalmic treatment.
Mass treatment to cure curable blindness through eye camps has
brought hope and cheer to blind men and women. In India alone since
the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind launched the EYES
OF INDIA CAMPAIGN through rural eye camps in January, 1970,
eyes of over 3.4 million people have been examined and treated, and
572,420 people rendered blind due to cataract have had their sight
restored. Careful scrutiny of eye camp statistics have given very en-
couraging results. The rate of success at an eye camp is as high as 94
per cent. Bearing in mind that these eye camps are held in improvised
hospital-like accommodation, these statistics are indeed very heartening.
We hope and pray that efficacy of mass treatment for the restoration of
sight through eye camps so convincingly established in the Indian
sub-continent will be copied elsewhere, where the need exists.
184
BUSINESS SESSION 2
SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY— Antwerp, Belgium
Monday afternoon, August 6, 1979
REPORT BY THE TREASURER ON THE FINANCIAL
SITUATION AND BUDGET PROPOSALS FOR 1980/84
I should say that the Financial Report having been approved, the
Finance Committee were faced with the comparatively simple task,
that of implementing the resolution of this Committee increasing all
categories of membership fees and, consequently, unanimously now
submit this Budget to you for your approval. I think your consideration
of this must take into account two things: that the figures that have
been put before you are, of course, dependent upon the financial
structure of the organization administratively remaining the same and
also of the willingness, of which we have had most encouraging reports
from delegates of the rather better-off countries, and that is for the
support of the new special fund by additional contributions over and
above their membership fees. So therefore, if we come down to the
figures in detail, we take our annual income first for the whole of the
quinquennium which commences on the 1st of January next year and
finishes on the 31s^ of December in 1984. If we take the figures which
are the only ones available to us at the moment, that is the up-to-date
figure of 206 representative members, 67 associate members, 4 inter-
national members, and 3 sponsoring members, at the new rates of
subscription, that is at $250, $75, $1,000 and $1,250 respectively for the
various categories of membership, we get an annual income from
subscriptions which will remain, of course, throughout the next quin-
quennium of $64,275. If you multiply this by five, you will, I am
assured by the people who have checked my figures, get a total of
$321,375, so just remember $321,000-plus.
If we look at our figures for expenditure, one of the first charges on
our expenditure in the next quinquennium is the various subventions
that we make to our Consultative and Standing Committees. We have
a constitutional obligation to make a subvention of $3,000 during a
quinquennium to the ICEVH. We have a similar obligation, which has
existed for the last quinquennium and which it is not proposed to
increase in the next quinquennium, of a subvention of $2,000 for the
quinquennium to Standing Committees. In practice, not all the
Standing Committees draw this subvention. We are especially indebted
to committees like the European Committee, who are, I am glad to say,
self-financing. Therefore, out of the various committees which this
185
World Council has, we have taken subventions for only eleven of them,
and these are the African Regional Committee, Asian Regional Com-
mittee, the Latin-America Caribbean Regional Committee, North
America Oceania Committee, the Prevention of Blindness Committee,
the Conimittee on Social Development, the Louis Braille Memorial,
the Sports Committee, the Deaf-Bhnd Committee, the Rehabilitation,
Training and Employment Committee, and Cultural Affairs. So a
subvention of eleven committees at $2,000 a year gives you another
$22,000 and that means $25,000 in respect of committee expenditure
for the quinquennium.
Now you come to the administrative expenses and the adminis-
trative expenses are principally in relation to the Paris Office. The best
estimate that we can make of the expenditure in the Paris Office for the
next 12 months is $40,000. If you increase that amount by 10 per cent
annually to meet the continuing trend towards world inflation, and 10
per cent is a rather more modest figure than that which is estimated by
international financial experts, you arrive at a progressive total of
$244,288 expenditure for the Paris Office.
Then we come to the contribution which the World Council will make
towards the Secretary General's office. This was agreed, as you remem-
ber, on the recommendation of the Executive Committee to be at
$15,000 instead of the totally unreahstic contribution of $5,000 which
we have been making for some ten years past. And that figure adjusted
for an annual rate of inflation comes to $91,565.
The expenses of the Treasurer's office are quite minimal, because
most of the payments that are made out of the Treasurer's office are in
relation to the committees, the Consultative or Standing Committees.
So the Finance Committee therefore put in a purely nominal figure of
$5,000 for the expenses of the Treasurer's office to cover any necessary
administrative or travel expenses, in hope that an arrangement will
continue on similar lines to what was operated in the past quin-
quennium, and that is that an organization such as the Royal National
Institute for the Blind will continue to make its office facihties available
free of cost to the World Council.
The total of all these figures that I have mentioned adds up to
$365,853, which if you set that off against a figure of expenditure of
$321,375, gives you a potential deficit for the quinquennium of $44,478.
Now how is this to be met? Well, as you know, you have already
accepted the proposal that this should be made up by the formation of
a Special Fund, which means contributions over and above the in-
creased rate of subscription by some of the wealthier member countries
of this organization. We have proof of their good faith in the sense that
they have many of them contributed most generously during the last
quinquennium and enabled us not only to survive but to put ourselves
into a reasonably good financial situation. And therefore, we are
bugeting on the expectation that we shall not get less than what we
have received in total during the present quinquennium, and that figure
is $125,000. So the first charge on that is obviously your deficit on
administrative expenditure, and you are then left with a balance of
$80,500 to do three things. And all those three things are matters which
186
you have delegated within the discretion of your next team of Honorary
Officers working in consultation, where it is thought necessary, with
the Chairmen of the Regional Committees. These things are, first of all,
with regard to the augmentation of subscriptions. This we estimate
may take up as much as $50,000 during the quinquennium. That then
leaves you a balance of $30,522 to be devoted towards first of all a
question of any necessary travel grants, together with this most im-
portant assistance to the Aid to developing countries Fund, which from
the point of this General Assembly is virtually extinguished, but I think
it was the unanimous desire both of the Executive and indeed of this
General Assembly that some injection of funds should be put into Aid
to developing countries Committee, in order to enable them to do some
meaningful development work on behalf of the World Council in the
developing countries. So as I say, you are left with this total of $30,522
plus the income that you get from your now — I am thankful to say —
quite considerable investments. But it is absolutely impossible for the
Finance Committee or me or anyone else to forecast how the inter-
national money market will go, so far as interest rates are concerned,
in the next five years. So we have to leave that figure being a rather
nebulous one of $30,000 plus your investment income, which can be
devoted towards travel grants and especially to the aid to developing
countries. But on the basis of this, what must only be of course a very
broad estimate of income and expenditure, it would appear that the
wisdom of the Executive and the General Assembly in putting up the
membership subscription in all four categories to the levels that they
did recommend will be just about enough to see us through during the
next quinquennium, and yet at the same time make a meaningful con-
tribution both to travel assistance, augmentation of subscriptions and
aid to developing countries. And that, Mr. Chairman, is the report of
the Finance Committee, or at least the report of the Honorary Treasurer
approved and submitted by me on behalf of the Finance Committee,
which I would have pleasure to move now and then after it has been
duly seconded, I will try and enlighten anyone who might have any
questions on the subject.
(Moved by the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Seconded by
Harold Roberts and unanimously APPROVED).
187
REPORT FROM THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The Executive Committee had received, at its meeting on July 31,
two proposals for amendment of the Constitution from the North
America-Oceania Region.
ITEM 1
It was RESOLVED that the number of Vice-Presidents should be
increased from five (5) to six (6), one from each region.
It was further RESOLVED that the Vice-Presidents should be
Chairmen of WCWB regions.
The Executive Committee DECIDED
(a) to recommend this General Assembly to amend Article VI of the
WCWB Constitution, entitled OFFICERS, Section 1, Paragraph
2, Line 1 , to read six (6) Vice-Presidents, one from each of the
six regions,
(b) to reject the proposal that the Vice-Presidents shall be Chairmen
of the regions, elected by their regions.
ITEM 2
It was further RESOLVED that the regional representation of North
and Central America, at present five delegates. South America, at
present two delegates, and Oceania one delegate, should be changed to
five (5) delegates for the North America-Oceania Region, including the
former Oceania representative, and three (3) from Latin America.
The Executive Committee DECIDED
to recommend this General Assembly to amend Article V, THE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Section 1, Paragraph 2, as follows:
(a) Line 2 — to delete "North and Central America" and insert
North America-Oceania.
(b) Line 3 — to delete "South America" and insert Latin America
and the Caribbean.
(c) Line 4 — to delete "Oceania".
(d) to increase the representation on the Executive Committee from
the new Latin America and Caribbean Region from two (2) to
three (3).
(e) to decrease the representation from the North America-Oceania
Region from five (5) to three (3), due to the present over-
representation from that area.
The General Assembly decided :
to approve Item 1 (a) and (b). Item 2 (a) to (d), but rejected Item 2 (e),
leaving the present representation from North America-Oceania at
five (5).
188
REPORT OF THE LOUIS BRAILLE
MEMORIAL COMMITTEE
by Andre Nicolle, Chairman
The paper I have the honour of presenting to you sets forth the
principal activities of the Louis Braille Museum together with a report
of its management since the Fifth World Assembly of the World Council
for the Welfare of the Blind, held in Sao Paulo in August 1974.
I have already reported to the Executive Committee at its meeting
in Riyadh in March 1977 on the development of the museum in 1975
and 1976. I shall therefore only mention the really important events of
this period. For further details please refer to the report submitted to
the Executive Committee in Riyadh, copes of which are at your dis-
posal here. I shall thus be able to pay more attention to the years 1977
and 1978 and the activities planned by the Committee for the near
future.
In 1975 and 1976 the museum underwent considerable restoration
and modernization; we tried to restore Louis Braille's birthplace to its
original XlXth century aspect, at the time the Braille family lived there,
and also display to better advantage the souvenirs of Louis Braille and
the progressive development of Braille which resulted in its application
to new disciplines and its universal recognition.
It should be noted that some new objects of great interest have been
acquired by the museum. We wish to thank the donors for their
generosity, as these objects enable visitors to understand the reasons
for the success of the Braille system and all it represents for the blind.
In May 1975, a Congress was organized at UNESCO by WCWB
European Regional Committee to celebrate the 150th anniversary of
the Braille system and to take stock of its use in modern times. On this
occasion, the congressists, representing some thirty countries, made a
pilgrimage to Coupvray to visit Louis Braille's birthplace. Our president,
Mr. Boris Zimin, profoundly moved by the extreme simphcity of the
house where the Braille system was conceived, decided to donate a
marble plaque to the village of Coupvray to commemorate this inter-
national meeting in honour of Louis Braille. This plaque made in
USSR, was unveiled on November 6, 1976, at the monument erected to
the memory of Louis Braille in Coupvray, in the presence of Mr.
Saakian, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Soviet Union in Paris,
the Prefect of the Department of Seine-et-Marne, the Mayor of
Coupvray and numerous French associations of and for the blind.
Mr. Achille Dyckmans, Honorary President of the Ligue Braille,
Belgium, was also present.
The interest aroused in the Louis Braille Museum during the 1975
International Congress continued throughout the following years
resulting in an increased number of visitors, both French and foreign.
189
And it was thus that the members of the ICEVH General Assembly,
meeting in Paris in 1977, visited Coupvray on August 8 of that year to
render homage in their turn to the memory of Louis Braille.
During this period we endeavoured to carry out the projects sub-
mitted to WCWB Executive Committee in March 1977 within our
financial possibilities. We thus had a new set of post-cards printed and
a reprint was made of the leaflet about the museum.
My colleagues on the Committee and myself wish to express our
deep appreciation to the curator, Mr. Jean Roblin, and Mr. Taillefer,
the museum attendant, who, during this period, as in the past, have
carried out their tasks with competence and efficiency which is beyond
praise, doing their best at all times, particularly for foreign delegations,
to evoke the life and work of Louis Braille and give their visitors all the
explanations they need.
With regard to financial matters, I reported to the Executive Com-
mittee in Riyadh that the interest aroused in the Braille system and its
inventor through the holding of the 1975 Congress, had resulted in a
considerable increase in donations to the Museum; thanks to these
donations, the work of restoration and modernization was able to be
carried out. But, as time went on, the amount of annual contributions
sent by WCWB members considerably diminished and we ran the risk
of not being able to carry out satisfactorily the work with which you
had entrusted us. This is why I suggested to the Executive Committee
to send a new recommendation to all WCWB members to increase
their voluntary controbution from $8 to $20.
The Executive Committee unanimously agreed to this proposal and
our President himself sent a letter to members requesting them to
respond generously to this appeal. As a result of this measure, the
amount of annual contributions received from WCWB members, other
than French, considerably increased — from FF.5,336 in 1976 to
FF.8,200 in 1977 and FF. 10,727 in 1978.
However, on examination of the attached accounts, as at December
31, 1977 and December 31, 1978 respectively, it will be seen that;
(a) In spite of the progress mentioned, the total contribution from
WCWB members, other than French, received in 1978 by the
Louis Braille Museum, only corresponds to approximately
$2,400. Whereas, if the recommendation to the Executive Com-
mittee, ^equestinj WCWB affiliates to ii-crease their contri-
butions to $20 per member had been complied with, the Museum
should have received approximately $4,000, since the number of
members in the General Assembly is about 200.
(b) Even by adding the annual amount of the WCWB subvention of
$300 to the contributions from non-French members, their
participation in the expenses of the Louis Braille Museum only
came to 25 per cent in 1977 and 37 per cent in 1978, which would
appear to be insufficient.
In fact, the budget of the Museum was only balanced thanks to two
big contributions, i.e. $4,500 from the French National Committee
for the Welfare of the Blind and $2,250 from the Union of the Blind of
190
the Resistance. But there is no certainty that even with the best in-
tentions, the French organizations can continue to make such important
contributions.
In addition it may be asked : is not the fact that one country supports
60 per cent of the expenses of the museum while all the other countries
together only cover 40 per cent, in contradiction with the spirit of
international responsibility which guided the WCWB General Assembly
when it decided to take over the expenses of conservation, upkeep and
caretaking of Louis Braille's birthplace? Of course, the French organiza-
tions intend to prove their attachment to the memory of Louis Braille
by more than mere words, but they are afraid that they may not be able
to continue by themselves to assume more than 60 per cent of the
expenses; expenses for which WCWB generously decided to take the
responsibility.
This is all the more worrying because the state of Louis Braille's
birthplace and the care and conservation of its collections which are
exhibited there will make it necessary for us to undertake some rela-
tively important work. The curator has recently noted a certain amount
of wear and tear in the museum itself, and serious inconvenience in
maintaining the collections exhibited there in good state, owing to the
dampness of the museum in winter because of insufficient heating.
A French Government-certificated architect whom we consulted
estimates that in order to remedy these drawbacks it will be necessary
to effect certain repairs to the masonry and to the ceiling revetment and,
above all, to install a heating system in the different rooms in order to
maintain in winter a high enough temperature so as to avoid serious
damage to the museum's collections by the dampness which persists in
the Paris region for most of the year.
From the estimates we have made, this work would involve expenses
amounting to about FF. 20,000. So, the members of the Louis Braille
Memorial Committee are very concerned about its financial situation.
They therefore earnestly request the members of the World Assembly
to give thought to the problem of the financing of the Museum in order
to arrive at a rational solution. Of course, the French members are
conscious of the duty they have to the memory of Louis Braille and his
birthplace; nevertheless, they address an urgent appeal to their col-
leagues in other countries for the substantial support they need in
accordance with the ideal which has guided the founders of WCWB
and that all have so magnificently served during thirty years.
They wish to express in advance their deep appreciation.
191
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192
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 8
COOPERATION IN REHABILITATION AND
EMPLOYMENT
Tuesday morning, August 7, 1979
Chairman: Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, Sweden
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REHABILITATION,
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
by Bengt Lindqvist, Sweden
The Fifth Assembly of WCWB, held in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1974,
adopted a new structure of standing committees. The new Committee
on Rehabilitation, Training and Employment replaces the two former
committees on urban and rural employment. As its name implies, the
Committee on Pvehabilitation, Training and Employment should cover
the whole range from basic rehabilitation to vocational rehabilitation,
vocational orientation and guidance, placement and employment.
Composition
The Committee was composed as follows :
Mr. Ousman A. Khafizov, USSR
Mr. Tom J. Parker, United Kingdom
Captain H. J. M. Desai, India
Mr. J. K. Holdsworth, Australia
Mr. Hernando Pradilla-Cobos, Colombia
Mr. Frank van Schendel, Netherlands
Mr. Mohamed Rajhi, Tunisia
Mr. Willy Marhauer, Federal Repubhc of Germany
Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, Sweden {Chairman)
During the period under review, the committee lost three of its mem-
bers. Mr. Marhauer died towards the end of 1976 and Mr. van Schendel
and Mr. Rajhi left the committee for personal reasons. Towards the
end of the period. Dr. Horst Geissler, Federal Republic of Germany
and Mr. Bob Jaekle, USA, accepted to serve as new committee members.
Meetings
The first meeting was held at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva on
October 7-10, 1975. During the meeting a working plan was adopted
193
and the committee had an excellent opportunity to study the ILO
Blindoc Service on the spot.
A second and informal meeting of the committee was held in con-
nection with the meeting of the Executive Comm'ttee of WCWB in
Riyadh from February 28 to March 3, 1977. This time the committee
members had an opportunity to check what had been done up till then
and discuss some of the current problems. The Executive Committee
of WCWB instructed the committee on Rehabilitation, Training and
Employment to form sub-committees on coordination of research and
guide dog matters.
A third and last meeting of the committee was held from February 27
to March 3, 1978 in Moscow. At this meeting the presentation o^ the
results of the work of the committee was discussed and the committee
had the opportunity to study some of the excellent production units
run by the All-Russia Association of the Blind.
Plan and Projects
The committee members noted with some concern that the committee
had a huge field of work to cover. However, from the beginning the
committee decided to adopt a practical approach and therefore selected
some specific areas where the committee could make concrete contri-
butions to the development of work for the blind in diff"erent areas of
the world. During the first meeting several projects were formulated
where information should be collected and distributed, models of
programmes be described and recommendations given concerning the
organization and content of work in some areas. The results achieved
during the period are summarized in the following sections of this report.
BASIC REHABILITATION
During the committee meeting in Geneva the great importance of
pre-vocational or basic rehabilitation was pointed out. It was also
stated that this area of rehabilitation had so far been neglected, es-
pecially in many developing countries. The committee therefore decided
to produce a document in which the present philosophies and ex-
periences of basic rehabilitation should be described. The main objective
of the project should be to provide guidance to countries in the process
of creating programmes for basic rehabilitation.
Captain Homi Desai generously volunteered to write a book on the
matter. This offer was accepted and a small working group set up
within the committee to assist and advise the project.
During the period the committee observed with great interest the new
domiciliary programmes of basic rehabilitation which have been
started in India, originally by Helen Keller International. It was
decided to add a chapter describing such programmes which, in a
highly interesting way, supplement the more traditional, centre-based
rehabilitation programmes. The book will include chapters on the
importance of rehabilitation, the organization and content of basic
rehabilitation, chapters on staff and economy and will also include
suggested plans of action on different administrative levels.
194
The committee hopes that this book, entitled "Planning of Basic
Rehabilitation", will be avilable by the time of the Sixth World
Assembly.
Mobility
In orientation and mobility the long cane technique has made con-
siderable progress during the period. The adoption of a resolution by
the Fifth World Assembly of WCWB has certainly contributed to this
development. But of even greater importance is the production of a
brochure on orientation and mobility by the European Regional Com-
mittee. This brochure gives an excellent illustration of what orientation
and mobility is and what it means to a blind person. Our committee
highly recommends this brochure which is available from the National
Association of Blind and Partially Sighted in the German Democratic
Republic.
Acting in support of the resolution on mobility adopted by the Fifth
World Assembly, the committee has set up two main projects which
could further promote the adoption of the long cane technique through-
out the world :
1. Through Keith Holdsworth, the committee has made a survey
concerning the training of mobihty instructors.
Based on the results of the survey, an interim hst of institutions will
be presented by the time of the Sixth World Assembly. We hope to
include in the report information on the programmes of the institu-
tions and also the possibility of receiving students from abroad.
2. Through Keith Holdsworth, the committee has also worked out a
model programme for the training of mobility instructors. It is hoped
that a report of this project will be available at the Sixth World
Assembly.
LOW VISION
The problem of finding the best and most suitable programmes for
the utilization of residual vision — low vision rehabilitation programmes
— is well known to many countries. The committee has found that
philosophies and programmes differ greatly between some of the most
experienced countries in this field. The committee therefore decided to
call an expert meeting with representatives of some of the most ex-
perienced countries with diff'erent solutions. The main objective of the
meeting would be to try to find a common ground between the different
programmes for low vision rehabilitation.
A meeting along these lines was held in Sweden in September 1978.
Experts from five countries : Denmark, Sweden, United Kingdom, USA
and USSR participated. The programme included discussions on:
What is Low Vision?; Diagnostic Methods in Assessing Residual
Vision; Methods of Adapting Optical Aids; Methods in Training of
Residual Vision; Effects of Low Vision Rehabilitation on Living
Conditions.
The conference took place in a cooperative atmosphere and the
group of experts succeeded in agreeing on a detailed functional model
195
for the organization of low vision rehabilitation including the following
main functions:
1. Identification
2. Eye Unit
3. Low Vision Unit
4. Environmental and Behavioural Variables
5. Follow-up.
Among the things which were emphasized by the conference parti-
cipants was the importance of careful diagnosis of the residual vision
and the actual training of residual vision in different realistic situations.
There also seems to be a consensus on the need for a new profession
within this area — the low vision rehabilitation teacher or visual thera-
pist. A report of the meeting will be available by the time of the Sixth
World Assembly.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
When the committee formed its working programme at its meeting in
Geneva, we decided to make two contributions in the field of job
opportunities. The committee decided to take various actions to
support the strengthening and further development of the BLINDOC
Service. Secondly, the committee also wanted to produce a document
on models for special workshops for the blind.
BLINDOC
The plan to set up an international documentation service for blind
and visually handicapped persons developed out of the deliberations at
the 1969 WCWB World Assembly in New Delhi. The initiative was
then taken to develop close cooperation with the ILO.
The ILO accepted to implement such a project in its work pro-
gramme; early in 1974, in collaboration with the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind, a new information service was launched which
was identified as BLINDOC. The principal objectives were to collect
information on new approaches of integrating the bhnd and visually
handicapped into active life, and to report on these efforts and tech-
niques to interested organizations, agencies and rehabilitation specialists
around the world. Up to the end of 1978 over 280 such reports have
been issued; the distribution list for BLINDOC despatches has been
growing steadily. The reports are based on data in the growing volume
of pubhcations and periodicals on blind matters, as well as documen-
tation on technical cooperation projects in developing countries, expert
missions, seminars, training courses, etc. The World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind (WCWB) and its member organizations in various
countries have been helpful in securing additional material.
BLINDOC information is intended primarily to be a help to field
v/orkers and practitioners in blind rehabilitation. The documentation
in the form of abstracts extends to a broad range of functions, from
assessment, guidance, counselling, to job training, placement, organiza-
tion of workshops, adaptation of jobs, apphcation of technical aids and
196
assistive devices, etc. Moreover, BLINDOC seeks to gather and present
relevant information on new legislative actions, administrative pro-
visions, supportive social and psychological rehabilitation services,
innovative practices by employers' and workers' organizations, pro-
ducers' cooperatives of the visually handicapped and other activities.
The effectiveness of the service should also facilitate an exchange of
experience between BLINDOC users.
The principal abstracting language for BLINDOC texts is English;
within the limits of available resources, abstracts are also provided in
French or Spanish. Contacts with other documentation centres that
collect rehabilitation literature have been established to build up
collaboration in data exchange, in the development of common in-
dexing terms and, in the long run, improve the capacities of response
to information requests.
The further development of BLINDOC requires that organizations
and individual workers who serve the blind and visually handicapped
share their experiences so that others may benefit from them. The co-
operation of all BLINDOC users is earnestly invited. Any relevant
publications, articles, report abstracts or summaries, as well as en-
quiries for information can be sent to :
International Labour Office
Vocational Rehabilitation Section, BLINDOC
CH-1211 GENEVA 22, Switzerland
In all, the ILO BLINDOC Service is an example of close collabora-
tion between international, governmental, and voluntary organizations
in the rehabilitation field, seeking to promote effective services to blind
and visually handicapped persons everywhere.
Booklet on special workshops
The objective of this project was to describe some different models of
special workshops to illustrate some different jobs which could be
suitable for special workshops and to present a plan for the starting of
new special workshops. Mainly this material is intended for countries
with little or no experience in providing employment for the blind.
Experts from three countries, the United Kingdom, USA and USSR,
were invited to present their national models. The representative of the
UK, Tom Parker, who is also a committee member, was asked to
present a plan on how to start a new special workshop. As a result of
this project a booklet entitled "Special Workshops for the Blind" will
be available at WCWB's Sixth World Assembly.
CONFERENCE ON THE UNIFICATION OF STANDARDS FOR
DIGITALLY ENCODED BRAILLE
The Executive Committee of WCWB, at its Riyadh meeting, in-
structed the Committee on Rehabilitation, Training and Employment
to make an effort to unify the different codes used by manufacturers of
new Braille reading devices. The committee therefore invited manu-
facturers and representatives of service and consumer organizations to
197
a conference at Unesco headquarters in Paris on May 2 and 3, 1978.
As a preparation for the conference, the Swedish Institute for the
Handicapped made a survey on manufacturers in order to explore the
present situation.
Some interesting progress seems to have been made at the con-
ference. Among other things, the conference suggested a special working
group which should give technical advice to WCWB headquarters
concerning the further standardization work. A full report of the con-
ference is already available and can be ordered through the Swedish
Federation of the Visually Handicapped.
GUIDE DOG MATTERS
During its meeting in Riyadh the Executive Committee decided to
establish a sub-committee on guide dog matters. Among other things
this committee has the following tasks :
(a) to stimulate the future exchange of experience in guide dog matters ;
(b) to provide consultation for countries which are going to start
guide dog training;
(c) to organize an international conference every fourth year.
Since then our committee has had considerable difficulty in finding
members for the sub-committee. Mrs. Groen-Korthoff has now accepted
to serve as chairman, the committee members have been appointed,
and it is our hope that the work of the committee will now begin.
RESEARCH COORDINATION
The Executive Committee also decided to establish a sub-committee
on the coordination of research. So far, the only thing we have had
time to do is to try to establish cooperation with the research committee
of the ICEVH. Up to now, however, no concrete plans have been
worked out.
198
MODELS OF BASIC REHABILITATION
by Captain Homi Desai, India
Basic Rehabilitation, to my mind, is the very FOUNDATION on
which restoration to normalcy of the visually handicapped — for that
matter of all disabled persons — is based.
If the foundation is strong, the client will, to the extent pemiitted by
his disability, return to near normalcy and blossom to the full extent
of his potential.
The philosophy of Rehabilitation is simple. It aims at the restoration
of the disabled to the fullest physical, mental, social and vocational
usefulness of which they are capable.
Purpose of Rehabilitation
The purpose of Rehabilitation is to restore FUNCTION, restore
CONFIDENCE and restore INDEPENDENCE to the handicapped
clients. The escalation of impairment is prevented. The disabling
conditions are reduced. Psychological adjustment and overcoming of
emotional and other disturbances greatly assists the cHent on his way
to normalcy. The residual abilities are developed and utilized in the
service of the clients. The clients are assisted to return to normal useful
lives within the community. The Medical Rehabilitation team ensures
restoration of function to the fullest extent permitted by the disabihty.
Once the shattered confidence of the client in himself is restored by the
Rehabilitation team, half the battle is won. Independence means a
tremendous lot to the visually handicapped. Everything possible is done
to restore fully their independence. Restoration of function, confidence
and independence could be achieved by sound and scientific Re-
habilitation practices and by systematic training.
Objectives
What is the immediate objective of Basic Rehabihtation? It aims at
making the client fully accept his disability, know the limitations
imposed by it, and assists him in adjusting to his severe handicap. After
orientation and adjustment, after restoring his self-confidence, after
giving him the basic skills, after psychological and vocational assess-
ment, vocational training and the total development of the client is
planned. The training leads to development of social graces of the client.
The social goal of Rehabilitation is to happily settle the c'ient in normal
family and social life.
The ultimate objective of all Rehabilitation is to totally develop the
client to his fullest potential, to uplift him in life, to re-integrate him
in the community and to resettle him in congenial and remunerative
employment and to lead him to economic and social independence and
happiness.
199
Losses consequent on bMndness
The late Rev. Father Thomas J. Carroll has listed as many as twenty
Losses Consequent upon Blindness. He has grouped these losses under
six major categories, viz., Basic Losses of Psychological Security, Loss
in Basic Skills Hke Mobility and Techniques of Daily Living, Loss in
Communication — both written and spoken. Loss in Appreciation of the
Pleasurable and Beautiful, Loss concerning Occupation and Financial
Status and resulting Losses to the Whole Personality.
Basic Rehabilitation endeavours all the time to minimize the adverse
affects of these very major and severe losses. The blind have to place a
lot of rehance on vicarious knowledge. Their basic resource is the
"mind". Through the mind, the blind perceive their surroundings. The
mind must be trained to be methodical.
Methodical Training enables visually handicapped persons to
develop their residual senses, to make the fullest use thereof, to over-
come psychological and emotional set-backs or disturbances, to regain
function and confidence, to learn vocations, to choose a career and to
develop therein to their full potential, to improve their social graces
and to equip them to squarely face the battle of life in a highly com-
petitive and increasingly materialistic world.
Basic Rehabilitation can thus help nev/ly blinded persons to success-
fully overcome the multiple and often overlapping losses referred to. If
undertaken systematically and thoroughly, it can help the client regain
his competence and help in his re-integration into the noraial main-
stream. Psychological and emotional adjustment would be much better
and the client assisted to regain his lost confidence and skills.
Methodology
The Rehabilitation team all the time tries to adjust the client to his
new Hfe of darkness. He is trained in personal management, personal
grooming, self care and techniques of daily living. Wise guidance and
counselling puts the client on the right path. Observation of other
blind persons who have successfully overcome their handicap gradually
restores his confidence in himself. In addition to adjusting and orienting
the client, the project staff unobtrusively but continuously assesses and
evaluates him. Intensive tiaining in outdoor and indoor mobility
steadily improves his independence of movement. The client is taught
the use of various aids, appliances and equipment. Home economics
and domestic science also make him independent in home management.
He can prepare his tea, coffee, breakfast and even light meals. Skills of
communication enable the client to overcome the loss of ease of written
and spoken communication. Physical Training and corrective therapy
restore his body to physical fitness. Vocational Training facilities
enable the client to know the various occupations which could, with
advantage, be followed. The choice of a career becomes easy.
Basic Rehabilitation endeavours to develop the client from all
possible angles and continuously assists him in minimizing the adverse
effects of the losses consequent upon the onset of blindness. At the
same time, it enables the expert Inter Disciplinary Rehabilitation Team
200
to continuously assess and evaluate the client and help and guide him
in the choice of a career suitable to his hopes, aspirations and abilities.
Some Basic Principles
Before I discuss some typical Models in Rehabilitation, I would like
to emphasize a few general principles. All in the field of Rehabilitation
would agree that
— emphasis be placed on Residual Abilities of the client and not on his
Disabihties,
— limitations imposed by the Disability be fully accepted by the client,
the family and the community,
— training in the use of Low Vision Aids be made a part of Basic
Rehabilitation,
— miracles of modern rehabilitation be continuously brought to the
notice of newly blinded clients so that it gives them added confidence,
— clients be made to realize that few persons are so disabled that they
cannot put to good use their remaining capacities,
— excellent results are obtained through comprehensive personalized
individual training and services,
— no generalization be permitted nor the blind treated as a group,
— the fullest possible use be made of all available normal community
resources so that rehab-litation programmes become economical,
— negative attitudes of pity, misguided charity, sympathy are replaced
by positive, constructive, developmental and innovative attitudes,
— modern Management techniques be made full use of by all Agencies
engaged in the rehabilitation of the blind,
— no country can afford the luxury of idle manpower — much less the
developing countries, and
— the army of disabled — especially in the Third World — ?nust be
rehabilitated, trained and developed to become productive and
contributive members of the community.
The world over, Rehabilitation has proved — beyond all doubts —
that all these could be successfully achieved.
Priority for Client Development
The blind have necessarily to live in a world predominantly of the
sighted. In an age of population explosion, automation, inflation and
of growing unemployment, the blind would have to increasingly live in
a highly competitive and materialistic world. Unless they are trained to
face the difficult battle of life ahead, unless they develop to the fullest
extent of their potential, unless they make the most of all available
developmental opportunities, unless they are fully ready for the chances
ahead, they would find it increasingly difficult to compete on an equal
footing.
To my mind, client development is, therefore, a must. While doing
this, human dignity of the individual has to be respected. In all pro-
grammes, the client should receive top priority. The programmes
201
should be client-oriented. The client should be encouraged to
— judiciously use residual vision, if any,
— develop correct, positive, constructive and innovative attitudes,
— try for excellence in all that he attempts,
— be prepared for all opportunities ahead,
— develop all-round skills, especially his memory,
— learn self-help and cultivate dedication and commitment,
— be methodical in everything, especially his work, • •
— increase his self-reliance, independence and adaptability,
— inculcate safe methods and safety first habits,
— develop self-confidence and win the confidence of others,
— excel in human relations and know how to win friends and influence
people,
— realize that tomorrow begins today,
— adequately prepare himself for facing the battle of life ahead in a
highly competitive world and
— set goals, targets, ideals and develop his leadership and creativity.
Organizational Models in Rehabilitation
I would briefly refer here to four models in Rehabilitation success-
fully tried out in India. They could easily be adapted to suit the needs
of any developing country. The models are suitable for both urban and
rural areas. They are low cost and high yield and have proved highly
successful in client development.
Model I: The Department of Rehabilitation
At the Third All India Conference on Work for the Blind held in
Bombay from January 19 to 22, 1977, 1 presented a paper on "Planning
Basic Rehabilitation of the Blind". Following discussions, a resolution
unanimously demanded the setting up — by the National Association
for the Blind — of a Department of Rehabihtation. As a result, a Scheme
was framed. It was discussed with friends from Australia. They were
greatly impressed. They kindly arranged financial assistance from
Force 10. The Department was thus established on April 1, 1978. It is
intended that aU newly blind clients or those who are not privileged to
receive prior rehabilitation training should be assisted by this Depart-
ment right from the stage of the onset of blindness till the client is
happily resettled — both economically and socially.
After giving Basic Rehabilitation, the Department assists the client
in his further vocational development and thereafter in his happy
economic resettlement. In doing so, it may make use of the facilities
available in the normal community resources or in the Blind Welfare
set up.
Once the client is registered at the Department, he is free to come to
the Department again and again at any stage of his life for any guidance
or assistance that he may need.
202
Objectives of the Department
The Scheme broadly aims at
(a) creating a machinery — an organizational set-up — which can re-
habihtate, train and develop the visually handicapped right from
the stage of impairment till the client is happily resettled in life,
economically and socially,
(b) organizing courses for adjusting and rehabilitating individual blind
clients right from the onset of blindness till the client is adequately
developed and is assisted in earning a remunerative and a living
wage,
(c) starting courses for training Key Professional Personnel required
in the field of Rehabilitation,
(d) developing a training course for Instructors in Mobility, and
(e) guiding all Institutions for Adult Blind in the country in developing
similar projects in their areas so as to spread the concept of Basic
Rehabihtation in the country.
The Department will use, free of all costs, the Industrial Rehabilitation
facilities available at the NAB-Workshop for the Bhnd. Setting up of
exclusive Rehabilitation Centres for adjusting the newly blind clients
or those who have not had the benefit of Rehabilitation Training would
be prohibitively costly. It is, therefore, wise to integrate Rehabilitation
Training in the existing facilities. This method would be much more
economical and would suit the needs of developing countries. This is
the only way of rehabilitating a large number of blind clients at the
lowest cost and making them productive citizens contributing to the
economy of the country.
The objectives of the Department are :
— identification, location and referral of chents,
— giving them adjustment, orientation and mobility training,
— imparting training in personal management, personal grooming,
self-care, techniques of daily living, skills of communication, home
economics, knowledge of aids and appliances available and deve-
loping social graces,
— industrial rehabilitation and planning further vocational training
and career development of clients,
— developing short-term and refresher courses in rehabilitation and
organizing Seminars, Symposia, etc. with a view to giving publicity,
— organizing the training of various categories of professional staff
required in the field of rehabilitation,
— developing courses for training Instructors in Mobility, and
— guiding and assisting all Institutions for adult blind in the country
to develop similar programmes of rehabilitation.
Scheme
The Department intends to train each year four batches of 25
rehabilitees. In addition, the Department trains at each of the four
Courses some six to nine professionals in the field of rehabilitation
from all over India.
203
Thus the Professional Instructors, who are drawn from Institutions
and Associations for the Bhnd from all over India, get an opportunity
of handling a client load at the very stage of training itself. This gives
them practical experience of handling clients and makes their training
meaningful. It also helps clients in receiving individual and personalized
attention. Their rehabilitation and training programme is tailor-made
to suit the individuals' problems, aptitudes, etc. The Rehabilitees as
also the Professional Trainees get certificates at the end of the three
month's course.
Rehabilitation Training
Rehabilitation Training is imparted in seven sections. They are:
Rehabilitation
It trains clients in Adjustment, Personal Management, Personal
Grooming, Self-Care, Techniques of Daily Living ; gives Guidance and
Counselling and imparts Rehabilitation Training. The section maintains
individual files of each client, coordinates work of various sections,
conducts inter-disciplinary meetings, evolves tailor-made programmes
to suit the needs of each client and generally ensures coordination.
Vocational Training and Training in Handicrafts
Here, the Rehabilitees are introduced to various Handicrafts and
Vocations. Their suitability for a vocation to be pursued as a career
is evaluated and assessed.
Light Engineering Section
The Rehabilitees are introduced to Mechanical and Electrical
Training of an elementary type, working on simple fly presses, hand-
operated or mechanically-operated machines, machines such as
Punching and Drilling Machines, etc.
Braille and Communications
In addition to training the clients in Braille, their skills at com-
munications are developed. Clients are initiated in Typewriting,
Dictaphone Operation, use of the Talking Books, etc. The proper use of
available modern aids and appliances is taught.
Home Economics
Here particular attention is paid to Domestic Science and develops
clients in normal household duties such as cooking, laundry, cleaning,
sewing, home management, etc. For blind females, special emphasis is
laid on Home Management and Child Care.
Mobility Training
Every effort is made to fully develop the mobility of blind clients.
The use of the White Cane — both indoors and outdoors — is taught.
204
Physical Training and Corrective Therapy
Great attention is paid to Physical Training. Corrective Therapy is
planned in consultation with specialists in the field. The Department
hopes to develop a fully fledged indoor Gymnasium.
Staffing Pattern
In addition to a Director and a Deputy Director, the Department of
Rehabilitation has specialist staff consisting of a Rehabilitation Officer,
two Mobility Instructors, an Instructor in Home Economics and
Domestic Science, an Instructor in Communication Skills, an Instructor
in Physical Education and Training who also looks after Corrective
Therapy needs, a Social Worker and a Vocational Guidance Counsellor.
To the above staff, one Mobility Officer for training Instructors in
Mobility, two more Mobility Instructors, a Vocational Instructor and
an Employment Officer are to be added shortly.
The Project Staff members are specialists in their respective fields.
They are chosen with great care. Steps are taken to continuously
develop them in their specialities.
Inter Disciplinary Team
The Project Staff constitutes the Inter Disciplinary team which meets
twice a week or more often as needed. They discuss the assets and
liabilities — the good and the weak points — of each individual client
and plan corrective action and further development of the client.
Success in client development mainly rests on the efforts of this
Specialist Inter Disciplinary team. The team may also avail itself of the
services of specialists in particular fields as and when necessary.
The team members attend thirty-six talks given to Professional
Trainees by experts in the field of rehabilitation. The Project Staff
members also give talks to rehabilitees and the Professional Trainees.
Professional Trainees
In the developing countries, whereas training of Teachers of the
Blind has made some progress, training of professional staff required
in the field of rehabilitation of the blind has been sadly neglected.
The Department of Rehabilitation organizes four courses a year for
training professional staff drawn from Institutions and Associations
for the Blind all over India and new recruits interested in taking up
Rehabilitation as a career.
Thirty-six talks by experts in various disciplines give the theory input
to the trainees. They get practical experience in handling adequate
client load. Each Professional trainee is entrusted with the task of
totally developing three cHents. This ensures personal involvement and
rapport and very substantially helps in client development.
Merits of the Department of Rehabilitation
The notable merits of this experiment are that
— it creates an organizational set up which can rehabilitate and train
blind clients right from the stage of onset of blindness till they are
happily resettled, economically and socially,
205
— the clients themselves are fully involved and are motivated,
— the staff endeavours to develop the clients in totality and prepares
them to function at their optimum level,
— a variety of options are available and enable a rehabilitee and the
expert Inter Disciplinary team to select suitable careers of the
client's choice,
— the client receives individual and personalized attention and the plan
for his career development is tailor-made to suit his hopes, aspirations
and abilities,
— the personal rapport established between the Instructors and the
clients restores the confidence of the client and accelerates the pace
of his development,
— the Professional Trainees, while receiving intensive training, not
only receive theory input but practice experience within the service
system,
— the Professional Trainees have ample opportunities of handling a
chent load, which prepares them for meeting practical and realistic
situations throughout their careers in the field of rehabilitation,
— that since the Professional Trainees are drawn from Institutions for
the Blind all over the country, the concept of Rehabilitation steadily
spreads to the remotest areas,
— that a cadre of core staff — professionally trained — in the field of
rehabilitation is being continuously built up in the country,
— the scheme has the merit of integrating staff training with client
assessement, training and development,
— the scheme is down to earth, practical, realistic, low cost and high
yield and, compared to the benefits, the cost is minimal,
— in terms of human benefits, the gains are immeasurable,
— it is much less expensive to provide rehabilitation and resettle the
visually impaired clients than to provide life long care and/or
services,
— rehabilitation ensures meaningful integration of the blind in the
normal community, and
— this organizational arrangement facilitates improved and assured
rehabilitation services.
Model II : Domiciliary Programme
The second model I would like to refer to is the interesting experi-
mental pilot project conducted in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu
(formerly Madras). The Project, developed with aid from the Rehabilita-
tion Services Administration, Department of Health, Education and
Welfare, USA has, as its objectives, the development of practical
methods for the total rehabilitation of blind persons living in rural areas
in their own environment by giving them scientific training -n their
houses or nearby.
The training is given in Orientation, Mobility, Personal Care, House
Management, Daily Living Skills, Agricultural Operations, Rural
Vocations, Manual Dexterity Skills, Vocational Training, Social
Integration Activities and allied subjects.
206
The objective is also to discover the individual capacity and aptitude
of rural clients and to train them to live productive lives in a manner
agreeable to them so that they may get relief from dependence on others
to the extent possible.
Methodology
The Project selected five community block development areas in and
around Madurai City. The total population covered was approximately
500,000. Half of one per cent of this population was estimated to be
blind. To faciUtate touring in the villages, the field staff members were
given cycles. The Project Investigator was given a motor cycle.
Financial Aspects
The programme is very simple in scope. It is limited in vocational or
career orientation. It aims at preparing clients for being useful and
contributive members of the family unit. The cost factor, however, is
most favourable. No land, buildings, costly equipment, farm animals
and other institutional facilities are needed. The average cost per chent
over a three year period is Rs.204 (US $24 only). In an institutional
set up, the cost could be around Rs. 7,000 (US $750 only) per chent per
annum. Thus, at a very low cost, the programme can give basic Re-
habilitation and train a very large number of the rural blind.
Staff Training
The staff of some twenty field workers were given intensive training
by a reputed Consultant in Rehabilitation from the American Founda-
tion for Overseas Blind. The Project staff was selected from the rural
areas covered by the project.
The training of the field staff included demonstration and practice in
orientation and mobility, activities of daily living, counselling and
interviewing of clients and class-room instruction. They were also
trained in various skills involving the common vocational activities of
villagers and of the vocational needs of clients entrusted to their care.
The field staff surveyed the area for identification and location of
blind persons. In addition to interviewing the clients and ascertaining
their complete particulars, the field staff also contacted the family
members of clients and secured their deep involvement in the total
development of the client.
The Project has effectively demonstrated a simple and constructive
approach to providing practical training to a large number of rural
clients within the meagre financial resources available in most deve-
loping countries.
Merits of the Model
This method
— avoids isolation of the blind or uprooting them from their villages,
— ensures better integration in the family and the village community,
— helps in retaining the interest of family elders and other family
members,
207
— gains the confidence and support of village leaders, village and
district officials dealing with Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy,
Poultry Farming, Village Industries and Rural Crafts,
— assures support of these officers who can help clients under various
Government approved Schemes,
— facilitates the social integration of the client and indirectly helps him
in his chosen career,
— enables the client, even if he is not fully self sufficient, to substantially
assist the family unit by his contribution on jobs to which he can do
justice,
— is much more economical than other models and can reach a much
larger number of the rural blind, and
— develops trained productive manpower rather than encouraging idle
untrained manpower.
Model III: Agricultural and Rural Training — Institutional
Programmes
My third model is again suitable for training and for resettling the
rural blind in their familiar rural surroundings. It aims at imparting
Basic Rehabilitation. In addition, the rural blind are trained in Agri-
culture, Horticulture, Floriculture, Pisiculture, Animal Husbandry,
Dairy Farming, Poultry Farming, Sheep and Goat Rearing, running of
Petty Rural Shops, Rural Crafts and Trades, and in allied farm pursuits.
The training period is advisedly kept at one year so that the trainees
go through all the four seasons and learn as much about seasonal farm
work as is possible.
The Project does not aim at making an expert Agriculturist out of
the blind client. What is attempted is to give him all the Basic Skills
which enables him to work on his own farm independently or as a
participative member of the family unit.
On completion of the training, the Resettlement Officer takes the
client to his village and with the help of village officers and his family
elders, helps in resettling him. The Centre provides a small initial
capital outlay on resettling the client.
Our experience has led us to two conclusions — firstly, the project
should preferably be a part of the community development programme
so that the assistance, guidance and cooperation of the block level
officers would be forthcoming in ample measure; secondly, it would be
preferable to organize such a Centre near an Agricultural School,
College or Community farm so that expert guidance and assistance is
available at all times.
Merits of the Model
This model has the following merits :
— the visually handicapped are not uprooted from their familiar rural
surroundings,
— they are not planted in towns and cities where accommodation is
I almost impossible to secure, where mobility presents tremendous
difficulties for them and where the cost of living is very high,
208
— the psychological and emotional disturbances consequent upon
separation from families are avoided and
— the client is trained and assisted to become a useful and contributive
member of the family unit or to run his own farm or business
independently.
Model IV : Rehabilitating the Aging Blind
"Home — Sweet Home — there's no place like Home" runs a song
mother used to sing when I was young. Where joint family systems still
obtain and where the aging blind could be cared for in their own homes,
there is nothing like it.
If not, Homes for Aging Blind should be homes in the real sense of
the word. The aging need our love, affection, esteem and care. They
need respect. They need social acceptance.
Homes for the aging blind should endeavour to give all these and to
secure for aged blind happiness, approval and acceptance in the
community.
A Home for the Aged developed in India provides for past-time
occupations — both urban and rural — which keep the aged happily —
though lightly^ — occupied. A great deal of attention is paid to developing
recreational activities, outings, talks, variety entertainments, etc. This
keeps them cheerful and leaves no time for brooding.
Domiciliary programmes and Day Centres may also be planned
where necessary.
This model needs no elaboration.
Without Basic Rehabilitation, the visually handicapped would have
to go through the trial and error method — thus wasting a lot of valuable
time and making their task much more difficult. It would, therefore, be
a wise policy to first adjust them to their new lives of darkness, train
them to the fullest extent possible and thereafter to develop them in
careers of their choice so that they would be successful in whatever
careers or vocations they follow.
Rehabilitation should aim at full adjustment to disability, securing
higher standards of living, ensuring full employment, preparing for all
round economic and social progress and total development of the chent.
Need for International Cooperation
According to a recent report of the International Labour Organiza-
tion, more than a billion people in Africa and Asia will have to wait for
about 40 years before their four basic needs for food, housing, health
and education are met. The report adds that between 1.7 and 1.5 billion
people on the two continents will continue to live in grinding poverty,
with malnutrition, disease and squalid surroundings as part of their
daily lives.
"Far reaching policy changes, or sizeable international income
transfers to the poorest, appear to be needed to meet the four sets of
basic needs", the report adds.
To me, it appears that if we want to develop Basic rehabilitation on
an adequate scale in the developing countries, international cooperation
209
and financial assistance on a massive scale is inescapable. The sooner
it is organized, the better.
A recent United Nations study indicates that approximately ten per
cent of any population suffers physical, sensorial or mental impair-
ments. In order to care or compensate for the limitations of disabled
persons, at least 25 per cent of any community is directly affected by the
existence of impairments. These figures are staggering. They pointedly
highhght the colossal proportions of the problem.
It is to the advantage of the State, the Community and the economy
of the country that a proper organizational set up exists in all countries
for the rehabilitation, training and economic and social resettlement of
the visually handicapped.
We are living in a world of increasing interdependence of nations —
in a world of international cooperation. All Mankind's Concern is
Rehabilitation of the Disabled — no matter to which country they belong.
Recommendations
In all humility, and with all the earnestness at my command, I would
submit the following recommendations for the consideration of this
august General Assembly :
— evolve an International Plan for assisting Basic Rehabilitation of
the Blind,
— develop National and State level Plans for providing rehabilitation
and training services for the blind,
— draft model Legislation on Rehabilitation which could be considered
by various countries,
— create, under the National Voluntary Agency, with counterparts at
State levels, an organizational set up to rehabilitate, train, employ
and develop the visually handicapped,
— the Regional Committees, in cooperation with the Rehabilitation,
Training and Employment Committee of the WCWB, should en-
deavour to get professional, technical and financial resources needed
for furthering collective self reliance and enhancing the creative
capacity of the region and assist in developing an organizational set
up as envisaged,
— regional model pilot projects and exchange programmes be deve-
loped in the field of Rehabilitation with a view to accelerating the
exchange of experiences, sharing of knowledge and pooling of
resources and capacities,
— a cadre of highly trained professional personnel in the field of
Rehabilitation and Mobility be built up by regularly and systema-
tically organizing training and refresher Courses, Seminars, etc.,
— the set up envisaged should build up "referral chains" of specialized
institutions in the blind welfare set up and/or in the normal com-
munity resources to which clients could be referred to for further
specialized training and/or development,
— rehabilitation should aim at reducing the degree of dependency, at
increasing productive work, at contributing to the economy of the
country, at reduction of costs of dependency and at meaningful
social integration,
210
— for those with residual vision, training programmes be developed
using all available Low Vision Aids,
— rehabilitation services be taken to the rural areas and facilities made
available for the rehabilitation of rural blind, the blind women, the
aged blind and the blind with multiple handicaps,
— recreational facilities and Day Centres be provided to wean away
the blind — particularly the aged blind — from their loneliness and
isolation and to further the process of their reintegration into the
normal community,
— national or regional training centres and training courses for
Professional Staff engaged in the field of Rehabilitation of the
Blind be established and developed,
— the Rehabilitation, Training and Employment Committee of the
WCWB may use its good offices in persuading some of the affluent
countries to assist in furthering Rehabilitation Programmes in
developing countries,
— provide institutional care and/or domiciliary, geriatric and other
services for the aged blind, and
— develop Rehabilitation Engineering suitable to the needs of deve-
loping countries using simple, moderate, intermediate and inexpensive
technology and make available rehabilitation aids and educational
and vocational equipment at economic prices.
It is my submission that the visually handicapped be enabled to enjoy
equal opportunities, enjoy all human rights, all fundamental freedoms,
peace and happiness, the dignity and worth of the human person and
social justice. Then alone would rehabilitation be meaningful and would
achieve the objectives we have in mind.
Thank you !
211
AFRICA'S VILLAGE FARMERS
by Ronald J. Mbekeani, Secretary/ Registrar
Malawi Council for the Handicapped — Malawi
1. General
1.1 In the developing countries of Africa where the largest number of
the population live in rural communities and where Agriculture plays
a dominant role in the rural economy, small scale farming can be
undertaken successfully by the blind and the handicapped without
the use of sophisticated equipment. In particular those countries
where the mainstay of their economies is agriculture, the blind once
trained in agriculture have a much brighter future than perhaps
being employed in industries that are in their infancy and where the
able-bodied are preferred by employers.
1 .2 In our communities however, there is the problem of land tenure
which is common to all parts of Africa, and is made more acute by a
rapidly expanding population and booming economy. This is more
evident in those communities where small scale farming is being
overtaken by large and mechanized estate farming. It is important,
however, not to lose sight of the fact that the blind and the handi-
capped have equal rights with the sighted to share any available land
and facilities. What is more important also is whether or not the
blind are equally qualified to make use of these facilities being made
available by National Governments, and also share the resources
being made available by international agencies or developed
countries.
1.3 In most cultures, particularly in East and Central Africa, the
blind, the handicapped, the aged and the indigent are well looked
after within their extended family systems. They are not shunned or
ill-treated in any way, but are accepted with sympathy. However,
as a subsistence economy gives way to a cash economy, the blind and
the indigent if not adequately prepared become isolated. Some of
them in order to support themselves move to rural trading centres or
urban areas and engage in begging. Others continue to be cared for
in their homes, where their worst enemy is probably boredom and
frustration, and neither they nor their families are aware of their
capabilities. It is particularly worse in those areas where there are
no opportunities for training or education. Here education and
training is meant functional education and vocational training with a
really good purpose.
1.4 For the blind who are young and in good health, and who may
have a family to support and children to educate, farming offers a
way of life which will harness their energies, feed their family and
provide an income. To their community they become an economic
212
asset ready to participate and contribute to the national development
of their countries.
1.5 Problems of developing a complete service for the blind will be
many and complex, but with unique planning and proper imagina-
tion a sound scheme can easily be started particularly in those
countries where rural agricultural schemes have been started by
national governments. It must, however, be borne in mind that
reluctancy from planners of these rural schemes for blind persons to
join the schemes is common, but this can be resolved once it has
been shown and proven that the blind can work just as well as the
sighted. In fact in some cases there has been more demand for
resettlement of blind persons side by side with their sighted counter-
parts, once it has been proven that they are equally good. Perhaps
the experience in Malavv^i is a good illustration of how the integration
of the blind in an agricultural development scheme can successfully
be undertaken.
2. Malawi experience
2.1 The Take Off of Resettlement and Placement of the Blind in
Malawi
2.1.1 In 1967, when the Ministry of Education, in cooperation
with the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind,
launched its Open Education Programme those res-
ponsible for the implementation of the scheme felt that
there was an urgent need to look into the whole question
of the training and placement of the adult blind who
would, in future, be joined each year by an increasing
number of sighted school leavers.
2.1.2 It seemed that as agriculture is the mainstay of the
economy and the majority of the population is engaged
in this type of work, the answer for the visually handi-
capped could also lie in this direction.
2.1.3 Teaching simple farming techniques to the blind is not
difficult. Traditional implements can be used w'thout
modification, except for the addition of a yardstick and
a measuring line. Besides many of the blind have worked
on the land before losing their sight and facilities for the
agricultural training of the blind have existed in Malawi
for more than 10 years at the Government Rural
Vocational Training Centre for the Blind at Mulanje.
After a one-year course in general agriculture, the policy
was to return the trainees to their villages, and after-care
was given by the Principal of the Training Centre in
addition to his other duties. Seeds and fertilizers were
provided and other help given when needed ; for example,
food and clothing for the man and his dependants, and
grants for building and repairing houses.
213
2. 1 .4 However, some of the blind had very httle or no land of
their own, while others had land which was unsuitable
because of poor soil, low rainfall, flooding, etc. Some of
the blind achieved a reasonable return for their efforts
but a high proportion did not. As a result many left
their homes and drifted into the towns, to become
street beggars.
2.1.5 Because of these difficulties, and the problem of providing
adequate supervision for men working on their own in
widely scattered villages, it was felt that there was a
need for the blind to participate in some type of project
which offered permanent and profitable employment,
and the Government Agricultural Development Projects
seemed to be ideally suited for this. In Agriculture the
blind can compete on nearly equal terms with the sighted,
and at the same time they v/ould be assisting in the
development of the country and become useful members
of the community.
2.1.6 Accordingly, approaches were made to the authorities in
charge of the agricultural development schemes, and
with the assistance of the Project Manager of the
Chikwawa Cotton Development Project (now the Shire
Valley Agricultural Development Project hereinafter
referred to as CCDP), a pilot scheme was started there
in 1970. Many of the blind have their homes in this area
and would therefore need no acclimatization to the local
conditions. At that time the CCDP covered an area of
about 100,000 acres scheduled for rain-fed cotton pro-
duction. The authorities had sunk boreholes and built
crop extraction roads, markets had been set up and
credit machinery established for the provision of seed,
fertilizers, pesticides, spraying machines etc. for the
settlers. Experimental stations were built and agricultural
personnel were seconded to the scheme and new per-
sonnel recruited.
2.1.7 The size of the individual holdings varied from 8-12
acres and it was planned that a sufficient acreage should
be cultivated from the time settlers arrived on their
■> holdings so that they immediately produced cash crops
and moved away from subsistence farming.
2.1.8 In order to overcome any reluctance on authorities
regarding the work potential of the blind, two blind men
who had previously been trained at Mulanje were in 1969
taken with their sighted wives into a village near the
experimental station and Project Headquarters at Ngabu.
They were given a complete season's training cycle as
they had little or no experience in the growing of cotton.
Housing was provided and while in training the men were
paid the standard labourer's wage.
214
2.1.9 When authorities were satisfied that the blind could
indeed cultivate their land successfully, at the end of the
season, July 1970, the blind farmers were allocated
holdings within the settlement scheme. Four other blind
men and their families were also given holdings, and
traditional thatched mud-block houses of the type
approved by the management were built for them.
Although the sighted settlers are expected to build their
own houses when they arrive on the scheme, this was
thought to be too time-consuming for the blind and
therefore they were given this help to compensate for
their handicap.
2.1.10 Subsistence allowances were paid to the blind in their
first yea: ^o enable them to buy food and other neces-
sities as most of the families had no savings to live on
while they waited for the first harvest. Farming tools and
household equipment were provided by the Royal
Commonwealth Society for the Blind. Sighted labour
was employed to clear the heavy bush while preparation
of the land for cultivation — hoeing, ridging, planting
etc. — was done by the bhnd themselves.
2.1.11 General supervision was given by the Principal of the
Mulanje Rural Vocational Training Centre for the Blind
acting as a Resettlement Officer and a "mthandizi" or
leader (a local man with a good farming record) was
employed to deal with any day-to-day problems which
arose from the settlers' visual handicap; for example,
laying out the plots ready for hoeing, and to act as a
liaison person with the agricultural personnel. The
mthandizi was given a holding of his own to cultivate.
The bhnd were given access to all the services provided
for the sighted — credit facihties, and advice and in-
struction by the agricultural extension aid. At the end of
the crop year, cotton was sold through the ADMARC
markets, and loans for insecticides and spraying machines
were repaid. Results proved to be comparable to those
of the sighted farmers and a further 10 blind farmers
were allocated holdings for the 1971/72 season. Financial
assistance for these and for another 10 settled in the
1972/73 season was made available by Oxfam. With the
total of 26 blind in the scheme it was felt that no more
should be settled there for the time being as the propor-
tion of blind to sighted would be too high which is
contrary to RCSB's aim of a balanced society with the
blind fully integrated with the sighted and not forming
a distinct community of their own.
2.1.12 A similar project was started in Salima in 1971 as part
of the Central Region Lakeshore Development Project
hereafter referred to as CRLDP. Houses were built and
215
subsistence provided for men and their families. The cost
was partly met by a grant from the Malawi Society for
the Blind, and from Oxfam. Conditions for the settlers
were comparable to those in the Lower Shire Valley but
crops grown included maize and groundnuts as well as
cotton. A more intensive type of farming was advocated
by the authorities in charge of the scheme by the use of
fertilizers and by the provision of mechanical clearing
once the heavy bush had been removed. Eight more
settlers were taken into the scheme in 1972, making a
total of 13 blind farmers in the CRLDP.
2.1.13 In 1973, 10 holdings were set aside for the bhnd at Rivi
Rivi Agricultural Development Project near Balaka.
Crops grown there were cotton, maize, groundnuts and
sunflowers and in 1974 10 farmers were settled at
Mubangwe Settlement Scheme in the Northern Region.
2.2 Results of the Malawi Experience
2.2.1 From the results obtained it was clear that farming in a
resettlement area can be a more successful way of life for
the blind than resettlement in their own villages. It has
the advantage that large numbers of the blind can be
absorbed and fully integrated into a sighted community.
The blind have the satisfaction of knowing that they can
achieve as much as their sighted colleagues — in some
cases they have done even better. Permanent holdings,
supervision, after-care, marketing, credit facilities are
provided as part of the services for all settlers and do not
have to be specially set up for the blind. Projects may
change their policies over the years and vary the crops
to be grown, but the blind can be quite as adaptable as
the sighted. As all these development projects have the
full backing of the Government there is no possibility
that they will be abandoned, as might be the case with
schemes orientated solely towards serving the blind.
2.2.2 Many difficulties which occur in the settlement areas are
common to both the blind and the sighted — domestic and
cultural problems v^'hich arise when families are away
from the'r villages and relatives, especially during illness.
Experience has shown that the successful establishment
of a blind man depends to a large extent on the presence
of a sighted wife. She has to help with a great deal of the
manual labour on such large holdings, particularly with
weeding after the first rains and at harvest time with
picking and grading the cotton. If the farmer employs
farm hands she is responsible for supervizing their work
and should report to her husband if there are any
shortcomings.
216
2.2.3 It has been found that during harvesting the Wind can
usually count on the help of their families outside the
development projects, and some farmers have full-time
help from relatives all the year. It is essential that such
helpers are adult and matured.
2.2.4 In 1975, the Mangulenje Scheme moved further north
near Chikwawa Boma and the blind farmers appear more
successful there. The Rivi Rivi Scheme and the Salima
Project have taken on more blind farmers. The blind
farmers in the Northern Region have made great success
in the growing of tobacco.
2.3 Training and Evaluation Farm
2.3.1 A Training and Evaluation Farm is being established
with funds from CEBEMO of Netherlands. The general
aim of the project is the rehabilitation of the blind
bachelors in a Malawian Society, and the generation of
income that can be used for the maintenance and creation
of activities for the handicapped in Malawi. The object
of the project is :
(a) To enable blind bachelors to earn a decent living
thereby making them more independent from others ;
(b) Enable blind bachelors to live up to their traditional
obligations;
(c) To evaluate and train the blind in agriculture ;
(d) To set up activities on a commercial basis in order
to provide a positive educational experience for the
blind and to generate income.
2.3.2 Some unmarried farmers have also been tried in the
projects but it is fair to say that their performance is
usually below that of the married men. They are very
dependent on their labourers or helpers and often do not
control them properly or use them to the best advantage.
In some cases, the blind have expected their helpers to do
most of the work, and naturally they become dis-
satisfied and may leave the blind man to fend for himself.
2.3.3 The best outlook for young unmarried men in agricultural
resettlement may perhaps lie in grouping them together
on a commercial farm where they can be employed as
labourers until they find a sighted wife. Here their
activities can be directed and they are not faced with the
responsibility for managing a holding single-handed.
3. Training and Resettlement of a Blind Farmer
3.1 Africa is a big continent and consequently what is done in
Malawi cannot be copied step by step in another part of the
continent. What is more important though is to observe the
217
principle of normality in any resettlement of a blind person.
Isolation causes enormous problems. Creation of resettlement
schemes for the blind person should whenever possible be
avoided, and a similar practice as that of open education should
be encouraged instead. Here we are talking of integration of a
blind farmer with sighted farmers and using all available facilities
provided by National Governments to farmers. These are credit
facilities, agricultural personnel, inputs, medical facilities etc.
Blind farmers or their wives in this system will also be able to
join in self-help schemes, women's groups, land allocation
committees, farmers' committees etc. Once this is achieved the
blind farmer will not only satisfy himself with economic benefits,
but also social benefits in the traditional set up of the village or
settlement. Organizations of or for the blind will only concern
themselves with the initial settlement or problems pertaining to
the disablement other than giving advice of the agricultural
nature or other aspects that are handled by the general services.
3.2 Training
In order to achieve this aim special training facilities in rural
agricultural areas supported later by a properly worked out
resettlement scheme need to be established. National organiza-
tions of or for the blind should be involved in this, perhaps
working through committees established for the purpose.
Training should be as functional as possible geared to farming.
Misplaced pity undermines a blind man's ability to work hard.
Blind men and their wives must learn to labour arduously for a
full working day. Training Centres for the training of blind
farmers therefore are an indispensable tool. The Centre should
not only provide knowledge in agriculture but also instil in the
trainee the spirit of hard work in the field rather than worship-
ping a qualifying certificate he gets at the end of the course. In
Malawi a blind farmer's real qualification is his good perform-
ance in the field. Training should not be geared to employment
other than resettlement in one's own holding or settlement
scheme. Training therefore should aim at the following :
— adjust the blind to his disablement;
— develop a sense of self-reliance, self-confidence and mobility ;
— to teach agricultural techniques to enable him to become
self-supporting and independent financially in order to
become a useful member of the community ;
— to make the fullest use of his potential ;
— to demonstrate to his family and the community that this
can be done, and to engage their full support ;
— to be able to demonstrate improved methods of farming.
3.3 Assessment and Selection of Candidates for Training
Not everyone is suitable for agriculture. Careful selection of
candidates for agricultural training and settlement should prefer-
ably be in the age range of 20-45 years. Older people are not as
218
adaptable as younger ones and are slower 1o learn new tech-
niques. Those below 20 years, may be suitable for training if
they are to work with a family, a group or in a cooperative
society. Mental alertness and ability to absorb new ideas do
improve during training. It is common in developing countries
that blind people have been left without much in the way of
mental stimulus for years and tend to become slow and sluggish.
Throughout training assessment should be made on the suit-
ability of the candidate for agricultural resettlement. The
training should also be planned to improve mobility and dex-
terity. Motivation to work is another good aspect to be con-
sidered since if a man is determined to succeed he is likely to
surmount his handicap. Pressure would not produce good results.
It is important not to pressurize the blind person into joining
settlement schemes if he is not interested. The half-hearted blind
may in time change their minds later and accept to join the
scheme once they learn that their colleagues are doing well. The
family also plays a leading role in training and must be willing
for their blind person to be trained. It will be difficult for the
blind persons if they are opposed to the idea, and their co-
operation will be needed when the training course is over and
when they are farming on their own land.
3.4 After- Care and Resettlement
This is just as important as the training, and if not properly
carried out will nullify the benefits of the Course. After-care and
resettlement should be looked at during the initial period in the
field as an on the spot training. Good relationship, therefore
between the Centre, resettlement and agriculture personnel must
be continued. In order to make it a success large scale planning
is necessary and should include the following:
(a) Programme should not be restrictive and must work
towards a variety of placement projects including
resettlement in one's own village if land is available, and
working on an established farm, in a cooperative society
or with a family, in particular the young and unmarried
blind people;
(b) In a country with an agricultural economy, the majority
of the projects must be of an agricultural nature ;
(c) Continuation of training in the field should be well
coordinated and geared towards the kind of farming
available in the area. This may be carried out on the
holding or commercial farm of the organization where
the farmer will work ;
(d) The organization should be capable of moving in with
assistance during the peak periods to relieve hard-
working farmers who have fallen back due to illness or
been overtaken by events beyond their control ;
219
(e) Full cooperation with agricultural Extension Social
Welfare, Community Development, Health and Educa-
tion personnel is essential and vital;
(f) The home management courses should also be organized
for wives geared to making wives understand their
husbands better. These courses may be organized in
cooperation with courses run by the general services ;
(g) If craft work is done at home, encouragement should be
made for marketing the produce, but careful attention
should be made to avoid concentration on non-profitable
\ operations ;
(h) Progressive settlement schemes do train the farmer to
raise cash crops. If the farmer has his own holding, it
must be an economic holding to enable him to grow cash
crops as well as maintaining a subsistence garden;
(i) To avoid the evolution of blind communities, blind
farmers should be integrated with sighted farmers
because blind families who live together do not make for
efficient farming and the maintenance of high standards.
Furthermore, they hinder the full integration of the blind
with society at large;
(j) Resettlement Schemes must be built into the Programme
as an effective measure of after-care or supervised services ;
(k) Commercial enterprises, including farming enterprises,
have frequently been seen to be successful where both
the blind and sighted labour are integrated. Such units
must be organized on a commercial basis;
(1) Community leaders, family or relations must be made
aware of the role they can each play in helping the blind
re-establish himself. They should not give too much help
and sympathy so that the man loses the urge to work
and his self-reliance; or too little help when needed, so
that he feels overwhelmed and falls back into his old
ways ;
(m) Importance of cash crop should be stressed; and
(n) Regular visits by Resettlement personnel must be main-
tained so that cultivation does not get out of control.
This is particularly important at planning time ; after the
first rains; during weeding and harvesting.
4. Conclusion
Malawi as seen from this paper has successfully pioneered in the
resettlement of the blind farmers. No doubt this is why the scheme has
attracted international recognition. If it is deemed necessary or appro-
priate by this conference, the WCWB is prepared to organize a Work-
shop or Seminar in Malawi. Such a proposal would no doubt be con-
sidered by the Malawi Government.
220
ROLE OF SPECIAL ENTERPRISES IN SOLVING PROBLEMS
OF SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF THE
BLIND
by Vassili A. Fedorenko, Vice-President
All-Russia Association of the Blind
In achieving social rehabilitation and integration, employment of the
blind was and is one of the most critical problems of the present for the
overwhelming majority of countries. In this century of impetuous
social, scientific and technical progress many problems, and among
them the various problems concerning the blind, for the first time in
history got a real basis to be solved rapidly and successfully. One of
such problems is the versatile problem of social and labour rehabilita-
tion. Life has proved that the social potential of each country, regard
of the society for invalids in particular, development of the system of
social security depend not only on the economic level but also on the
type of public relations, on the moral and legal rules and their influence
upon all the aspects of life and development of the society. The ex-
perience of the Soviet Union, socialist and some other states is the best
example of this.
The USSR system of rehabihtation of invalids includes various
sections of State, scientific, medical, training, production and public
organizations. An important role in the field of social and labour
rehabilitation and integration of the blind belongs to the All-Russia
Association of the Blind. Its experience in solving problems on social
rehabilitation and employment is indicative of +he fact that the Associa-
tion is a model of both successful solution of objective requirements of
contemporary society and of subjective interests of the blind. This is
explained by the fact that on the one hand the Association has real
rights and ample opportunities to develop its own organizational
structure and material and technical basis and on the other hand it
pursues an invariable course of conceivable strengthening its relations
with State, scientific and other organizations in solving concrete
problems on prophylaxis, rehab'litation and education.
The following trends in work are the attributes of the Soviet system
or model of social and labour rehabilitation :
1 . Common rehabilitation.
2. Vocational training at training and production centres of the
All- Russia Association of the Blind.
3. Rational and qualitative employment.
4. Improvement of professional skill, mastering a second (con-
tiguous) trade.
The possibility to get a secondary or higher education, political,
moral or aesthetic education, and social activities as well are attributed
221
to the versatile social rehabilitation of the blind. The deep interest of
the Soviet State in the social activity of each citizen, in social signi-
ficance of each one, in feasible participation of all members of the
society in labour makes it possible to solve successfully the problems
of mass integration of the blind.
In the early sixties the problem of employment of the blind was
accomplished. At present our conditions provide an opportunity for
each blind person to get a job at any time at an enterprise of the
Association as well as at state plants or factories, collective or state
farms.
In the Russian Federation alone in 1978 the number of blind workers
in State industry amounted to 13,000 people, in agriculture — to 6,000
people, in the field of science, culture, education and management — to
about 5,000 people. At the same time the enterprises and institutions
of the Association numbered 58,000 people. Just a simple comparison
of the figures confirms the very objective fact that the training and
production centres of the Association present the best form to employ
the blind in industry, hence it follows that the subjective aim of the
blind is to work at these centres.
The very name of training and production centre reflects the very
essence of the rehabilitation system. This centre is a fully-fledged and a
full and equal social unit, connected with the Association and also with
State and other organizations. Being quite special, a training and
production centre does everything possible to adapt its activities to the
specific requirements in production and labour organization of the
blind. At present we are implementing a programme on rational and
qualitative employment. This programme includes production and
engineering, medical, sanitary and hygienic, organizational, aesthetic
measures, based on the scientific labour organization principles, worked
out with very deep thought. These measures guarantee com^plete safety
of labour to each blind person, the character of the job corresponding
strictly to the individual recommendations of the State Medical and
Labour Commissions of Experts.
When in State industry, the blind are scattered and in the best
possible case they work in small groups, thus impeding provision of
special working conditions. At the same time these plants and factories
do not have special services to see to strict observation of the recom-
mendations of ophthalmologists and typhlologists, which is typical of
the enterprises of the Association.
Now I would like to outline the training and production centres for
the blind.
At the present time in the USSR there are 443 training and production
centres of the Associations of the Blind of the Union Republics,
numbering 110,000 blind workers, 194 training and production centres
among them belong to the All-Russia Association of the Blind,
numbering 58,000 blind workers.
As has been mentioned the main task of the training and production
centres consists in providing the blind with proper production, sanitary
and hygienic conditions (meeting thus the requirements of rational
employment) and with cultural and welfare facilities as well.
222
Within the recent time much has been done to make the training and
production centres more specialized and bigger, the number of them is
therefore reducing annually while the total number of the staff at an
enterprise is increasing. This permits concentration on the material and
financial resources to create bigger complexes, including buildings for
production and cultural purposes, dwelling-houses, it permits as well to
concentrate the engineering services, to use more effectively the process
equipment and to manufacture technically more complicated items to
satisfy the needs of the national economy of the country.
Together with the blind working at the enterprise are those who can
see, but according to the law in force their number should not exceed
50 per cent of ^he total staff.
What are the people who can see doing at a training and production
centre ?
First they belong to the engineering staff (technologists, designers,
economists and other office workers) who are directly dealing with
organization of production, its planning, material and technical pro-
vision; only those who can see perform technological operations, which
cannot be done by the blind because of danger, some detrimental effect
or because a visual control is required; and finally those who can see
perform auxiliary operations: they are fitters on tool manufacture,
repair of equipment, adjustment of machine tools, loaders etc.
Just because among the workers of the training and production
centres there are those who can see it is possible to introduce up-to-date
technology and to manufacture complicated items.
Quite a number of typhlological means are used at the training and
production centres. These means include non-standard equipment, a
variety of technological equipment (dies, moulds, jigs, gauges, measuring
instruments and other devices) and are used for labour organization of
the blind.
A special Designing Bureau of the Association as well as those
workers of the enterprise who can see are dealing with the designing
and manufacture of the above-mentioned equipment.
Wide application of typhlological engineering permits to use in the
basic production process some 60 to 75 per cent of blind workers out of
the total number of workers, the blind workers performing various
technological operations. The following machine tools are becoming
accessible for the blind: lathe, milling machine, jig machine, thread-
cutting lathe, various power, pneumatic, hydraulic presses, plastic
casting machine. The blind are becoming adapted to many assembly
operations.
But prior to admitting the blind to work, they have to undergo
training according to a special syllabus, the volume, essence and system
of the training corresponding to this syllabus.
The chief engineer of the enterprise and the deputy engineer on social
rehabilitation are guiding the training at the enterprise. A trade is
chosen in accordance with the desire and abilities of the person, his
health and recommendations of the State Medical and Labour Com-
mission of Experts. The training itself is conducted by the engineering
staff and by highly skilled workers. The training period depends on the
223
trade chosen and lasts from three to six months. Within this period of
time the apprentices learn to orientate themselves without any assistance
on the territory and in the rooms of the enterprise, they study the design
of the equipment, safety rules, the technological process of the enter-
prise, obtain basic working methods and strong habits of work without
assistance. While studying the apprentice gets from the enterprise a
stipend, the overalls are supplied by the enterprise free of charge.
After completing the training and passing the required examinations
the apprentice is given a qualification and an appropriate category.
Besides just the training the enterprise provides an improvement course
to expand the theoretical knowledge, to study new equipment and
technological process, to obtain knowledge in economics of production
and to learn second (contiguous) skills. Th's improvement course 's
carried out without discontinuing work, its periods and procedures are
fixed by the administration of the enterprise in accordance with
approved programmes.
Prior to vocational training at the enterprise the blind adults pass a
course of common rehabilitation at special centres. The blind children
pass this course at boarding schools for blind children and for children
with residual vision.
The availability of special technical services, dealing with problems
on various aspects of production, on division of complicated techno-
logical processes into simpler ones, development of entirely new tech-
nological processes for the blind, wide application of production typhlo-
logy means and partial employment (for technological operations) of
those who can see permit the enterprise to manufacture complicated
items: electric motors, reducing transformers, low voltage equipment,
illuminating equipment, electrical equipment, wire bundles, units and
parts for automobiles, tractors and agricultural machines.
The manufacture of these items is included in the plan of national
economy, required material and market being provided.
Many enterprises exercise direct cooperation with State plants,
manufacturing for them quite a number of items (the materials being
supplied by the plants) : a variety of units and parts for TV and radio
sets, for telephone equipment, including complicated printed circuit
cards. A card like that is designed for several hundreds of various
radio elements (diodes, resistors, capacitors etc.), which are strictly
mounted in given places.
A few enterprises produce bristle and brush items for everyday life
and technical purposes, paper and cardboard items, knitted goods.
Not only the workshops of the enterprises are open to the blind, the
Association takes care of home-workers as well, this type of rational
employment is meant for people not just blind but multiply handi-
capped as well. At the present time the All-Russia Association of the
Blind alone numbers 10,000 home-workers, while the total figure for
the USSR is 21,000.
The work at home is quite varied: knitting of shopping bags, using
cotton yarn, kapron and vinyl chloride fibre.
Many enterprises, manufacturing electrical appliances and low
voltage equipment provide simple work (assembling of simple units)
224
for the home-workers. The enterprise supplies the home-workers with
the required tools and devices, brings the raw material and takes the
ready products.
The Special Designing Bureau of the Association renders the enter-
prises considerable assistance in choosing new items for manufacture
and in production organization. By the orders of the enterprises the
Bureau provides them with drawings for the technological equipment,
non-standard equipment and technological process; the Bureau studies
the scientific and technical achievements in other countries and makes
recommendations on their use at the enterprises of the Association,
The Special Designing Bureau conducts scientific-research work and
experimental work on designing typhlological means to compensate
blindness and residual vision, it also publishes technical information
and methodical literature on training.
The existing material and technical basis of the enterprises was
forming gradually. The government grants the enterprises for the blind
a privilege in paying taxes. Up to 1951 the State used to pay those
expenses of the Association of the Blind which the latter failed to pay.
Further on, due to the development and improvement of the production,
due to considerable increase in manufacture all the enterprises became
profitable.
Since 1951 the income of the Association permits to completely clear
the charges for construction of production buildings, cultural and
welfare facilities, dwelling-houses, for buying equipment and means of
transportation, for mass cultural and sports events, for arranging
recreation and medical treatment of the members of the Association.
The salary of the blind workers at the enterprises of the Association
corresponds to that of those who can see and who have the same
qualification and trade, while working in common industry. The salary
of the engineering staff is adequate to that of the engineering staff of
State industry.
The enterprises work under the direct leadership of the local (regional)
Boards of the Association. They are dealing with employment of the
blind within a region, with improvement of the conditions, this being
done through the local authorities, and finally they provide the fulfil-
ment of the fixed plan by the subordinated enterprises.
The Central Board is guiding all the activities of the Association of
the Bhnd.
The Central Board develops annual and perspective plans of social
and economic development, approves the budget of the Association,
distributes material and financial resources, exercises control over the
activities of the Local Boards and enterprises. The Central Board
represents the Association in Governmental organs, participates in
development of legislative acts, concerning blind citizens.
The above-mentioned gives us a right to state, that the training and
production enterprises of the USSR Associations of the Blind are not
closed enterprises for blind people, but special enterprises where wide
application of the labour of the blind goes reasonably with that of those
who can see, the employed equipment and technological basis permit
effective and safe production of quite a variety of items.
225
In conditions of scientific and technical progress the attention of the
National Associations of the Blind and of the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind to problems of social and labour rehabilitation is
continually growing. This is only natural since proper solution of these
problems provides employment and mass integration of the bhnd.
And this can be realized only when the society understands the needs
of the blind, when the society renders assistance and cooperates with
the national organizations of the blind and for the blind.
The experience of the Soviet Union is an example of such an under-
standing and cooperation.
226
THE CHALLENGE OF URBAN UNEMPLOYMENT
OF THE BLIND
by N. Lorenzo Navarro, Mexico
L Introduction
The problem of the unemployment of the blind in the urban areas of
developing countries is dramatic and difficult to solve for the following
reasons :
1 . Lack of education
2. Shortage of jobs
3. Abundance of manpower
4. Limited budgets
5. Failure to recognize the v/orking potential of the blind
6. Limited means of rehabilitation
7. Lack of local initiative, and
8. Refusal of the employer.
We know that employment of the blind is a difficult problem and to
some extent not well understood in our countries, because in most
instances we talk about education, a little about rehabilitation and
almost never about the professional possibihties of the blind.
Many blind people complain bitterly about the objections raised by
those who could offer them work and remain indifferent to their
eagerness to v/ork in open employment.
Two questions can be posed :
Is it the blind person's lack of qualifications which prevent him from
ffiiding employment?
Or is it society and its preconceived ideas about the blind and
blindness which limit his professional activities ?
If it is true that the lack of quahfications and personality of the blind
person are the motives for refusal, the experts and specialists in re-
hab'litation should unite their efforts so as to attain the principal
objective of rehabilitation of the blind : their employment.
If it is true that society rejects and discriminates against their employ-
ment, measures should be taken to make society aware of the problem.
II. Aims
The ultimate aim of training is employment. If this objective is not
attained, all the human and material resources employed in the process
of rehabilitation w'U be of no avail.
III. Open Employment
In order to place the blind in employment in the urban areas of
developing countries, better rehabilitation and vocational training
should be available; the public should also be fully informed, especially
industrialists, businessmen and public services.
227
In order to combat unemployment in the urban areas, the following
aims should be set:
(a) Remove false conceptions held by people about the blind,
through all the media at our disposal.
(b) Organize a well-planned information campaign on the working
potential of the blind.
(c) Bring about a change in the structure and mentality of institutions
for the blind.
(d) Develop vocational training opportunities where they have been
overlooked.
(e) Make use of community resources.
(f) Make surveys of new job possibilities for the blind.
(g) Make analyses of jobs.
(h) Organize seminars in order to inform employers of the efficiency
of the blind in repetition work and in specific professions.
(i) Make a selection of posts in governmental, federal, municipal or
state departments.
(j) Create new sources of sheltered employment.
(k) Increase technical assistance.
When the blind are better prepared physically, psycho-socially and
professionally, and the community is aware of their problems, it will
be easier for them to find employment.
Open employment is a challenge and gives more satisfaction to the
blind person than sheltered work, as this kind of activity gives him a
sense of self-achievement and he does not have to depend on anyone
else, only on his own efforts and personal capacity.
The integration of the blind person in society is an essential element
of rehabilitation, which is why open employment is better than sheltered
v/ork.
When considering open employment in developing countries, it
should be realized that opportunities are very limited; consequently
every opportunity grasped should be a success, in order to prove to
sceptical people that the blind person is capable of coping as well, or
even better, than any other worker in the firm.
In countries like ours, where the majority of the bhnd are very poorly
educated or not at all we are obliged to resort to easy jobs, or simple
repetition work. Furthermore, if we take into account that our technical
training possibilities do not enable us to equip the blind with higher
qualifications, it is difficult to find them better jobs.
Employment and Follow-up of the blind in the various urban areas of
developing countries
The selection of a blind person for a post in open industry on a trial
basis rests with the technical team of the vocational training centre.
228
Analysis of Jobs
Previous to employment the posts are analysed by the Department
to find out those which can be held by a blind person.
The blind person who has been considered capable of taking up an
industrial post is sent to the corresponding Department where he
receives specific training; he will also be given mobility training both
indoors and outdoors, in order to ensure his complete adaptation.
When requesting a job for a blind person, one should first of all take
the opportunity to give a clear indication of the blind person's capabi-
lities, so that the employer will treat the matter as if it were a business
affair and not as an act of charity.
Despite the problem of urban unemployment in Mexico, some
success has been obtained in the following industrial sectors and in the
public services: electronics and electro-motor industries, the gas and
electricity sector, pharmaceutical chemistry, metallurgy, the food trade
in general, offices, perfumery and cosmetic industry, hospitals, sports
centres, commercial activities, etc.
Dark Room
Blind people are the obvious candidates for work in dark rooms of
hospitals and public or private clinics. This is an area which can be
exploited in developing countries.
For the training of the blind as dark room operators, all that is
needed is a hospital with an X-ray section, above all with automatic
equipment, which the blind person will become familiar with.
For this kind of work, blind people who have had basic rehabilitation
training should be selected.
During the past ten years, an average of 500 blind people in Mexico
have been placed in open employment in urban areas, and they satisfy
the minimum requirements for the jobs they have been given.
Specific Vocational Training Services
The possibility of vocational training of the blind in urban areas
should be increased to include telephone operators-receptionists, physio-
therapists, computer programmers, insurance agents, medical visitors,
sales agents, kiosk tenders, dark room operators, etc., so as to extend
job opportunities.
IV. Sheltered Workshops for the Blind
We must admit that sheltered employment for the blind is another
solution which we must adopt in order to solve, at least partially, the
problem of employment of the blind, and to combat the widespread
unemployment in the urban areas of developing countries.
Sheltered workshops mainly operate in two ways :
— by manufacturing their own products
— by fulfilling contracts with other industries.
Sheltered workshop management includes financing and production
control.
229
Y. The Fight against Urban Unemployment
Urban unemployment in developing countries is widespread and its
solution by the public authorities is almost impossible, as most of the
governments have Hmited budgets. In addition, the political instability
of many of these countries and the periodical changes of regime result
in programmes and projects not being fulfilled.
Consequently, it is necessary to encourage private initiative so that it
can help more in solving the problem of the blind in the developing
countries.
Furthermore, international organizations for the blind should give
more support to national and private institutions in these countries, in
order to find ways of alleviating the grave problem of urban un-
employment of the blind.
VI. Legislation concerning Employment in Urban Areas
Legislation in better support of the professional aims of the blind
would contribute to the creation of open employment and would result
in less opposition on the part of employers who, even when they are
aware that certain posts can be entrusted to blind people, often find
excuses not to employ them, thus by their attitude increasing un-
employment in the urban areas of developing countries.
VII. Recommendations
In Mexico, as in other developing countries, vocational training,
which is the final stage in the complete rehabilitation process, is not
carried out in a coordinated way. In most of the countries, rehabilitation
is limited to BASIC REHABILITATION, the phases of vocational
rehabilitation and employment being ignored or forgotten.
To realize that all the efforts, time and money spent on the training
of a blind person will not suffice to integrate him into employment,
represents failure for him and for the people who have been concerned
with his rehabilitation.
In many developing countries efforts have been made to offer
employment to the blind; however, in most cases, failures have been
more numerous than successes due to the lack of planning, bureaucracy
and limited budgets.
But what is the true situation? We are making mistakes, for under
these conditions the blind person cannot get rid of his frustrations; on
the contrary, they become more deeply rooted when he realizes that
rehabilitation is of no use to him and that his efforts to demonstrate his
capacities and talents, in order to become integrated in the community,
are in vain.
VIII. Concrete Suggestions
1 . The creation, on the national level, of responsible organizations
for the training and placement of the blind is a logical way to fight for
the employment of the blind.
2. The creation of job opportunities and the understanding of
employers and businessmen are necessary to obtain work for the blind.
230
3. The creation of training and professional evaluation centres is
indispensable in order to procure employment for the blind as workers
in easy repetition jobs, dark room operators in hospitals and private
clinics, physiotherapists, telephone operators, receptionists in public
and private enterprises, insurance agents, medical visitors, computer
programmers, etc.
4. The employment agencies for the blind must be able to rely upon
experts for studies and discovery of new labour markets, i.e. engineers,
industrial technicians, psychologists, specialists in marketing, instructors
in orientation and mobility, social workers, job promoters.
It is true that we belong to the developing countries !
It is true that there are not enough jobs and that we have a surplus
of manpower!
It is also a fact that our financial means are limited !
But it is also true that we must work towards employment of the
blind in developing countries !
I see no reason to minimize these great truths; I only know that a
solution must be found for each country, otherwise we shall be frus-
trated in our hopes for complete rehabilitation.
231
ILO STATEMENT
by Mr. Karl Gunther
In representing the International Labour Office at this Assembly, I
bring you the greetings and best wishes of my organization for a
successful conference.
As many of you know, within the range of services by United Nations
agencies to disabled persons, the International Labour Office, the ILO,
carried primary responsibility for all aspects of vocational rehabilita-
tion, training and employment of handicapped persons. The provision
of such worldwide services has always been a joint endeavour with other
organizations, an effort of cooperation, as is the theme of this assembly.
It builds on the unique feature of the ILO among world organizations
in that workers' and employers' representatives take part in its work
on equal status with representatives of governments ; ILO services to
disabled persons have thus been steadily developed in close collabora-
tion, with not only other international agencies and governments, but
with many non-govermnental and voluntary organizations. This is so
for the entire vocational rehabilitation programme which exists for all
categories of disabled persons; and it is strongly the case in the particular
work on behalf of the blind and visually handicapped.
The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind has been a key
source of cooperation in this, and we fully appreciate the steady
partnership. We look forward to maintaining and deepening this
collaboration in the future.
In the last two decades, more than 80 developing countries have
drawn directly on ILO technical cooperation for the purpose of
establishing new services for the disabled or expanding existing services.
Such projects, which can include the provision of advisory services of
rehabilitation experts, as well as other forms of direct assistance, always
include the organization and development of services to the blind.
Some projects have been designed exclusively on behalf of blind and
visually handicapped persons.
The ILO fellowship programme has helped rehabilitation workers
from developing countries to receive specialized training abroad. Some
ILO fellowships have enabled blind persons to attend professional
international meetings. ILO seminars, such as the ILO/DANIDA
Seminar on the Vocational Rehabilitation of the Blind and the Deaf,
which was held in Hong Kong three years ago, focus on the specific
problems of certain regions. Most recently, steps are being taken to
associate an ILO vocational rehabilitation adviser with the large project
in the West African region affected by onchocerciasis. The ILO has
given special attention to the problem of gathering and disseminating
technical information on blind programmes throughout the world.
As many of >ou know, since 1974 the ILO's Vocational Rehabihtation
Section has been providing a special documentation service, BLINDOC.
232
It has been developed in collaboration with WCWB and with the help
of many of its member organizations. The main objective of the service
is to keep blind organizations and rehabilitation specialists throughout
the world abreast of new developments and techniques associated with
vocational guidance, assessment, training, and employment of the blind
in open and sheltered employment. By August 1979, over 320 reports
and abstracts have been distributed to about 500 blind organizations
and rehabihtation staff around the globe.
While the central focus of the service is upon integration or re-
integration in productive work, gainful employment or self-employment,
there is also a strong concern with rehabilitation for self-care and self-
supporting activities in family and community. Programmes for the
blind in rural regions are of special interest; at the same time, the
documentation must reflect the integration of the blind in future-
oriented occupations of technically advanced societies.
Nevertheless, much more needs to be done to develop fair and
effective opportunities of training and working for blind persons
everywhere; and more must be accomplished in organizing internatioanl
documentation and information exchange.
The ILO will continue to do everything in its power to strengthen
relevant documentation and information services, as well as other forms
of international assistance. Any cooperation from blind organizations
and centres anywhere through expanded data input, the building up of
a common language of indexing terms, help with the translation of
document analyses into other international languages are but examples
of specific technical areas in which we can all work together. There is a
need to share much more effectively the experience with new technical
aids ; and a fuller knowledge of the laws and administrative practices
of regulations, etc. that around the world apply to the rehabilitation
and employment of the blind and visually handicapped must be built up.
In reference thereto, and in conclusion, I mention the Resolution
concerning disabled persons which was adopted just recently by the
1979 General Conference of the International Labour Organization.
It calls, among others, upon the Office to mark the 1981 International
Year of the Disabled by gathering documentation on legislation and
research in the area of social integration and vocational rehabilitation
in member countries.
In working to fulfil this charge, we shall certainly include special
attention to the situation of the blind. A large majority of the world's
estimated forty million blind are still denied the opportunity of con-
tributing to their own and their country's well-being.
We in the ILO want to continue cooperating with all of you toward
the time when blind youths and adults alike can take their full place
in the community and the world of work.
233
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 9
CULTURAL COOPERATION
Tuesday afternoon, August 7, 1979
Chairman: Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill, Brazil
\
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL AFFAIRS
by Dorina de Gouvea Nowill, Chairman
From 1974 to 1976, the Chairman of the Committee on Cultural
Affairs was Mr. Eric T. Boulter, who established an excellent rapport
with UNESCO and paved the way to the Draft Protocol to the Florence
Agreement. The Draft Protocol concerns the duty-free importation of
equipment and all types of materials for use by the bhnd and visually
handicapped. During the 34th General Conference of the UNESCO in
Nairobi in November 1976 the Draft Protocol was approved.
This unforgettable achievement of Mr. Boulter's was and is typical
of all the rest of his career as a leader in international endeavours for
the advancement of the blind and visually handicapped.
The term of the Chairwoman of the Committee on Cultural Affairs
began in Helsinki in 1976, during a meeting of the Honorary Officers.
Returning from Helsinki to Brazil, the Chairwoman stopped over in
Paris. There she was honored to have an interview with the Deputy
Director-General of UNESCO, Mr. John Ev. Fobes, and was able to
speak v/ith him about the WCWB and its aims and those of the CCA.
Contacts were made with members of the permanent Brazilian Delega-
tion at UNESCO and with Dr. Marie-Claude Dock, Director of the
UNESCO Division of Copyright.
The Chairwoman faced two duties: the organization of the CCA
itself and the broaching of the copyright problem.
Continuous, active, and able work by these groups together with
WCWB/CCA led to the WCWB's incorporation into the Inter-
governmental Copyright Committee as a permanent observer.
Permanent observer status at IGC was such an important step for all
who work with the blind and visually handicapped that the Chair-
woman of CCA thinks it fitting to thank a few of the many who contri-
buted to our effort with that of their own, before going further with the
report :
— Mr. Boris Zimin, President of the WCWB
Mr. Anders Arnor, Honorary Secretary-General
Honorary Officers
234
Members of the Committee on Cultural Affairs
Chairmen and Members of the Sub-Committees and Heads of
Information Centers
— Permanent Delegation of Brazil at UNESCO
Ambassador Geraldo Holanda Cavalcanti, Head of Delegation
Minister Joaquim Ignacio MacDowell
Mr. Isnard de Freitas, Delegation Advisor
Ambassador Paulo E. de Berredo Carneiro
— Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil
Dr. Antonio Francisco Azeredo da Silveira
— Counselor Francisco Soares Alvim Neto
Second Secretary, Division of Intellectual Cooperation
Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
— Dr. Marie-Claude Dock, Director
The Copyright Division of UNESCO
— Secretary of Culture, Science, and Technology for the State of
Sao Paulo
Dr. Max Feffer
— Dr. Horacio Coimbra
President of Companhia Cacique de Cafe Soluvel, Sao Paulo and
Counselor to the Fundagao para o Livro do Cego no Brasil
(Foundation for the Book of the Blind in Brazil)
— The Directors, Staff, Workers, and Counselors of the Fundagao
para o Livro do Cego no Brasil
At the Twelfth Session (4th extraordinary) of the Executive Com-
mittee of the World Intellectual Property Organization and 2nd Session
of the Intergovernmental Copyright Committee, meeting jointly in
Paris at UNESCO, November 28-December 6, 1977, the Brazilian
delegate, Minister Joaquim Ignacio MacDowell presented a request
from the WCWB to be admitted by the IGC to its sessions as a per-
manent observer (document IGC(1971)/II/2). The Council's observer,
chairwoman of the CCA, gave details of the WCWB's structure,
activities, and objectives, and its status at UNESCO, the United
Nations, UNICEF, WHO, ILO, CWOIH, and the lAPB. The Council's
request for admission, supported by the Brazilian delegate, was approved
unanimously.
The Brazilian delegate than presented a second proposal on Item 17
of the Agenda, the Application of the Berne Convention and of the
Universal Copyright Convention to equipment specially designed for
the blind, as to the setting up of a Working Group (document
B/EC/XII/16— IGC(1971)/II/19). The CCA observer suggested that
this Working Group be set up under the aegis of the Committees,
whose task would be to study suitable ways and means of facilitating
the free flow of books and publications designed for the blind and
visually handicapped.
Upon the unanimous approval of this second proposal, paragraph
179, document IGC(1971)/II/20 was settled upon:
235
179. The Committees, at the suggestion of the Chairman, then
decided to appoint WCWB, and if necessary other international
organizations dealing with those suffering from auditory handi-
caps, to carry out a preliminary study for the Secretariats. That
study would be supplemented by a brief account of the solutions
which had emerged at the national level, and would be sub-
mitted, if the Secretariats considered it necessary, to a working
group consisting of representatives of non-governmental
organizations concerned. The outcome of those consultations
would be made known at the next sessions of the Committees
in 1979.
The unanimous approval of the Brazilian proposals by the Secre-
tariats of the IGC and of WIPO and by member delegates was most
gratifying, and the request by the observers of the international
organizations of publishers, authors, and artists to be included in the
Working Group was equally promising.
As requested, the CCA prepared its study on the present situation
and conditions for the obtaining of copyrights for material in raised
characters, recorded form, and large type for the blind and visually
handicapped. To do this, a questionnaire was sent to all member
countries of the WCWB. Twenty-five answered and the results and
complete studies were forwarded to the Secretariats of IGC and WIPO.
To carry on with this work, the WCWB was invited to be represented
at the IGC 3rd ordinary session at the Headquarters of WIPO in
Geneva, February 5-9, 1979.
To carry out such tasks and others the Standing Technical Com-
mittee on Cultural Affairs created seven sub-committees. The following
tells of their organization, function and activities. The unification of
braille codes, media, computerization, mechanical large type production
and distribution, the reprint of World Braille Usage and the publication
of Braille: A Medium of Communication for the Visually Handicapped
were subjects and results of these five years of work and study.
THE STANDING TECHNICAL COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL
AFFAIRS AND ITS SEVEN SUB-COMMITTEES
By-Law V of the WCWB Constitution, Article VII, Section 2,
approved by the Executive Committee during its meeting in Riyadh,
on March 2, 1977, created the standing technical committees among
them the Committee on Cultural Affairs. To give members and highly
qualified non-member professionals means to work toward CCA
goals, seven sub-committees were set up. Each sub-committee should
hold at least one meeting by August 1979.
The purposes and function of the CCA and each of its sub-committees,
the chairmen and members of each, as well as their activities are given
in this report to provide an easy point of reference for those needing
information about our activity in the past two years.
236
Purposes and Function of the Committee on Cultural Affairs
Purposes — The purpose of the Committee on Cultural Affairs (CCA)
shall be the unification of braille alphabets and symbols and the
development of braille and talking book programs and publications in
braille and other media for the blind and adult education for the blind.
Function — To achieve its aims the Committee shall work to :
(a) continue the updating of the Committee on Cultural Affairs ;
(b) create and organize sub-committees;
(c) maintain contacts with and obtain UNESCO's cooperation for the
development of programs ;
(d) organize and follow up the question of copyright regulations for
the production of braille books, talking books, and large type
books;
(e) program international exchange of information in the production
and distribution of publications for the blind and visually handi-
capped ;
(f ) make in-depth studies of the existing resources of talking books ;
(g) make in-depth and thorough studies of braille mathematics, and
science symbols;
(h) examine carefully and follow up the situation of braille music
codes and the possibility of their unification;
(i) re-examine the existing braille linguistic codes ;
(j) delve into and follow up the situation of the production and
distribution of braille and large type books and other media for
the blind and the visually handicapped ;
(k) take other measures deemed necessary to achieve the purposes of
the committee.
Chairwoman: Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill — United Kingdom
Members: Mr. Eric T. Boulter — United Kingdom
Ms. Ludmilla Solntseva — USSR
Ms. Jeanne Kenmore — USA
Mr. Rajendra T. Vyas — India
Mr. Kiichi Higo — Japan
THE SUB-COMMITTEES
Composition — Each sub-committee is composed of one chairman, and
at least three members. Seats are not allocated only on the basis of
satisfying national or regional aspirations but on the basis of the
member being a professional with thorough knowledge of the area of
study to which he or she has been appointed.
General Purposes — To achieve its aims each sub-committee should :
(a) maintain a Coordination and Information Center to receive and
distribute information ;
(b) maintain contacts and obtain national and international co-
operation for the development of programs ;
237
(c) stimulate the organization of study groups according to each
specific area;
(d) promote meetings of the members ;
(e) organize a roll of experts and keep it up to date.
Sub-Committee on Braille Linguistic Codes
Coordination and Information Center: P.O. Box 5504
Johannesburg 2000
South Africa
Chairman: Mr. Walter Cohen — South Africa
Members: Mr. Kiichi Higo — Japan
Mr. David Lopez — Argentina
Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Khalaf — Saudi Arabia
This sub-committee reports that as countries are changing their
boundaries and names it is sometimes difficult to determine where one
should inquire regarding braille systems and for systems for individual
dialects. The question, when does a dialect become a language, is asked.
For these reasons the sub-committee plans to continue to explore the
various regions of the world to attain a picture of the development of
braille systems and the degree of uniformity achieved.
Unfortunately, many letters sent out by the sub-committee remain
unanswered. However, the Arabic-speaking countries and those in
Central and South America and 37 other countries have provided the
sub-committee with their braille systems; 24 have not.
Sub-Committee on Mathematics and Science (formerly named the
Sub-Committee on Mathematic, Chemical and Scientific Symbols)
Coordination and Information Centre: Organizacion Nacional de
Ciegos de Espana
Prim, 3
Madrid 4, Spain
Chairman: Mr. Francisco Rodrigo Dominguez — Spain
Members: Mr. W. B. L. Poole — United Kingdom
Mr. Igor V. Proskurjakov — USSR
Mr. Abraham Nemeth — USA
This dynamic group handed in an encouraging "activities carried
out" report, a small idea of which is given here, a working program
with short, medium, and long term objectives; an absolute essential,
the establishment of a secretariat for the sub-committee by the Spanish
National Organization for the Blind with expenses met by this national
organization; correspondence with the most important braille printing
houses in various linguistic areas; preparation of a questionnaire of
symbols, notations and illustrative examples which was sent to all the
members of the sub-committee for study and completion by their own
teams of experts; together with the questionnaire a second copy was
238
sent filled out by the Spanish team with the symbols used in the U
Notation of the Braille System, a synthesis of the European and Spanish
American codes and which, by chance, incorporates some interesting
rules of the Japanese and Brazilian codes and coincides with the Soviet
code in many points; study of the answers to the questionnaire and
preparation of a list of common representations and their proposal to
the members of the sub-committee as a basis for future work ; letter
contact with heads of WCWB delegations requesting that they establish
groups similar to this in their countries, and to keep in contact with the
secretariat of the Sub-Committee on Mathematics and Science.
The Sub-Committee on Mathematics and Science has also planned
its working program for the next quinquennium. It is a well-thought-out
continuation of the work begun — wide personal contact not only
through the 1979 General Assembly but also constantly with separate
members and delegations and through articles and notices to be pub-
lished in the sub-committee's bulletins; publishing of reports on the
state of unification, the agreements reached and, hopefully, publication
of a universal code; the setting up of a file system on newly created
symbols, ones never included, and established representations which
give difficulty so thay may be further studied; the promotion of regional
sub-committee meetings or seminars for the training of experts in the
universal code, the analysis of occupations accessible to blind mathema-
ticians and scientists, and the exchange of experience among outstanding
professionals.
The bulletin to be circulated is well planned and stimulating for the
experts and delegation members to give their bit in choosing appro-
priate representations. The rules set up for choice allow wide parti-
cipation with a game sense of interesting cooperation.
Sub-Committee on Braille Music Codes
Chairman: Mr. Guglielmo Vassio — Italy
Members: Mr. Zoilo Lara de Toledo — Brazil
Mrs. Edward J. Krolick — USA
Mr. Shigeo Hayashi — Japan
Mr. Vassio elaborated a short history of attempts to unify musical
codes since 1929 and tried to establish contacts to try to convoke an
international conference to ratify agreements. Finding cooperation
very rare, Mr. Vassio preferred to withdraw his name as chairman.
During the next quinquennium, the CCA will undoubtedly re-form
this sub-committee which will certainly strive to bring to completion
the ideals of Mr. Vassio and those of other points of view will be
reconciled so that unification of the code can be brought about.
Sub-Committee on Talking Books and Broadcasts for the Blind
Coordination and Information Center: 15 West, 16th Street
New York, N.Y. 10011
USA
Chairman: Mr. Peter Hanke — USA
239
Members: Miss Ulla Cabling — Sweden
Mr. Tibor Vas — Hungary
Mr. Edno Facco — Brazil
Mr. D. J. Roskilly — United Kingdom
Tbe name of tbis sub-committee bas been added on to due to tbe
importance of special band radio broadcasts for the blind in the
United States. The success of these broadcasts in that country makes
the extension of its use to other countries desirable for study.
Questionnaires have been sent to members of the sub-committee
with a later one, developed from information received from sub-
committee members, to be sent to countries with Talking Book
programs.
The chairman of this sub-committee called a meeting of its members
at the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London, January 8-11,
to better be able to study the resources of talking book centers in each
country and study each country's possibilities for broadcasts.
Sub-Committee on Mechanical Braille Large Type Production and
Distribution
Coordination and Information Center: Am Schlag 8
D-3550 Marburg 1
Postfachll60
West Germany
Chairman: Mr. Karl Britz — West Germany
Members: Mr. K. C. Shah — India
Mr. A. B. Oni — Nigeria
It has been difficult for this sub-committee to find out how many
countries have braille printing houses and how many each country has.
Thus, the importance of cooperation and promptness in answering
correspondence is once again evident. Up to the date of the preparation
of this report, the Sub-Committee on Mechanical Braille Large Type
Production and Distribution was able to inform the CCA that some 51
countries have presses. An overall estimate is that there should be
between 90 to 100 large and small houses in the world.
This sub-committee plans to continue in its efforts in contacting all
braille printing houses so that it can learn exactly what methods and
equipment are being used and so that it can inform the houses on the
latest developments in the field.
Sub-Committee on Computerized Braille Production and Other Media
for the Blind and Visually Handicapped
Coordination and Information Center: P.O. Box 208
Bedford, Mass. 01730
USA
Chairman: Mr. Derrick W. Croisdale — United Kingdom
Members: Mr. R. A. J. Gildea — USA
Mr. H. Werner — West Germany
240
Once again the compiling of data, contacting people and organiza-
tions, and disseminating information were the starting points. Work
began with Mr. Gildea compiling a directory of people and organiza-
tions which can be used to direct inquirers to the most likely helpful
sources of information and advice. Mr. Werner made up a question-
naire the date of which should yield comparative production systems.
Mr. Croisdale organized a conference in London — May 29 to June 1 —
on computerized braille production as one more step in bringing
together people in the field in the effort to disseminate information on
the use of advanced electronic technology efficiently and effectively in
the production of printed material for the blind and visually handi-
capped.
The RNIB offered to host this meeting of singular importance, being
the first international meeting on this subject. The state of the art of the
many present uses and the possible future uses of electronic technology
was to be "irradiated" among those who have been involved in this
work from its beginning and those who are now entering it.
Sub-Committee on Library Services
Coordination and Information Center: 1291 Taylor Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20542
USA
Chairman: Mr. Frank Kurt Cylke — USA
Members: Mr. P. J. A. de Villiers — South Africa
Miss Frangoise Hebert — Canada
Mr. Kazuo Honma — Japan
Since libraries are obviously both resources and targets for any
working organization or simple individual, and it is even more so in the
case of WCWB, the advent of a sub-commiUee on library services was
inevitable. The sub-committee will work closely with the Working
Group of Libraries for the Blind of the International Federation oi'
Library Associat'ons to address standardization of recorded formats to
the promotion of international exchange, to pursue internationally
acceptable applications of postal rules and regulations. In addition, a
standard for bibliographic format will be developed and proselytized.
Adult Education
Adult education is one of the goals of the CCA. Consequently, a
sub-comm'ttee should have been established for centralizing study and
action in this area. Two different points of view were raised :
— that education in general is dealt with by the International Council
for the Education of the Visually Handicapped, a consultative
committee to the WCWB ;
— some members thought, however, that the updating of education for
adults is a new method linked to cultural aspects ; thus it should be
a goal of the CCA.
There is a need to establish a policy in this area which should be
settled upon by these two groups in the next quinquennium.
241
Meetings
A quick run-down of meetings would be that the CCA was invited
to and members were present at: The International Federation of
Library Associations conferences in Brussels in 1977 and then again in
Prague in 1978. CCA members were also present at the European
Regional Committee Meeting, the Conference of the Directors of
Braille Printing Houses and Braille Libraries in Madrid, and the
Intergovernmental Copyright Committee meetings, together with the
World Intellectual Property Organization, in Paris, November 28-
December 6, 1977, and in Geneva, February 5-9, 1979.
On the 11th and 12th August, 1977, the CCA held a general meeting
at the UNESCO Headquarters. The vitahzing presence of Mr. Nils-Ivar
Sundberg, Chief of the UNESCO Special Education Unit, and Mr.
Boris V. Zimin, President of the WCWB, gave impetus to the meeting.
All members of the CCA and most sub-committee chairmen were
present, allowing presentation and full discussion of action plans. Other
matters such as copyrights and the books Braille as a Reading Medium
and World Braille Usage were discussed.
It was inspiring that although work has begun in late 1976 some of
the sub-committees had made such good headway.
World Braille Usage
There are many people to thank back through the years for keeping
the effort toward the re-editing and reprinting of World Braille Usage
alive and others who finally welded all the ever evasive possibilities
together into the UNESCO grant, which permits the reprinting.
The UNESCO grant is solid, heartening proof that inter-committee,
national and international and private cooperation, hard work, and
good will are vital to our work and manifestly so in our finally being
able to revise, update, and reprint World Braille Usage. This book is
essential as a reference book. Teachers, transcribers, and innumerable
other professionals and the blind and visually handicapped themselves
will again have this valuable, reliable, universal reference source to
turn to.
Braille: A Medium of Communication for the Visually Handicapped
We feel most fortunate to have found Mr. Barry Hampshire to
continue the work already begun by Dr. Jeanne Kenmore. The book
does not overlap World Braille Usage in that it pays greater attention
to recent historical background, current research and development in
and the future trends of aspects of braille and its usage, all aspects of
production from selection of material to distribution, and existing
braille code systems.
At the time of writing this report, the book's final title and publica-
tion date had not been decided upon.
The years 1974-1979 were highly gratifying years of the CCA and its
Sub-Committees in spite of start-up difficulties.
Small groups, the sub-committees, were able to work intently with
matters broken down into manageable size; long-needed contacts with
242
library services were established; another member was added to the
staff of the Special Education Unit by the Director General of UNESCO ;
contacts were made with the Brazilian delegation at UNESCO to
support proposals to obtain greater financial and material resources for
the Division of Structures, Contents, Methods and Techniques of
Education — UNESCO. These many elements must be drawn into a
tightly knit core so that the intensified activities of the years ahead can
flow smoothly to the right targets.
The breakthroughs, in some cases veritable victories, of crossing set
international boundaries by the waiving of copyrights and the more
amorphous but equally disconcerting boundaries encountered in the
distinguishing, identifying, and unifying of symbols, separating and
delineating dialect-language-nation lines, and, with little exaggeration,
crossing the intellectual food line with the offering of two reference
books must be carried forward.
Years of contact with the general public have shown the Chair-
woman of the CCA the public's lack of awareness of the difficulty of
not only the international exchange of reading and "listening" material,
but also the production of it. That the general public is unaware might
be so disturbing, but the confusion and dejection that this situation
causes the blind and visually handicapped and the professionals, es-
pecially the young and newly trained, not yet hardened by combat, who
prepare them to take their rightful, useful place in society, is devastating.
To be able to state this before fully attended meetings of international
groups, the IGC and WIPO, that can almost control our main artery
for learning was more than an honor. It was a firm confirmation that
much more can be and will be done.
The time is ripe ; the opportunities are here. This is the Year of the
Child, 1980 will mark the Centennial of Helen Keller, and 1981 the
Year of the Handicapped. There is much we can and must do.
243
REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON
BRAILLE MUSIC CODES
by Professor Guglielmo Vassio, Chairman
The profession of musician has always been one of the most accessible,
prestigious and remunerative for the blind and, I would venture to say,
one of the most congenial. Although this is true of byegone days, when
there was no practical system of writing, with the coming of Louis
Braille's marvellous invention — the key which was to open the doors of
culture to all visually handicapped persons — a veritable revolution
occurred, to an extent that no-one, even the most optimistic, could
possibly have foreseen such a vast and universal cultural development.
The inabihty of the first printing presses set up in the various coun-
tries to supply all the music necessary to blind musicians, prompted
them to apply to other countries in order to enlarge their repertory,
while transcribers who had to reproduce all kinds of music in braille
were very often compelled to create conventional signs corresponding
to the inkprint, so as to translate the ideas of the author as faithfully as
possible, thus making it more difficult and complicated to write and
hard to understand. This is why the Resolutions and the Code resulting
from the International Conference in Paris, 1929, translated into most
of the languages of the civilized world, were acclaimed with great relief
and practically all blind musicians were agreed at least on the adoption
of symbols, which had been the principal aim of the Conference, even if
not on the lay-out of the text on the braille page.
From then on, production increased to a great extent in many
countries, mainly due to the work and generosity of the American
Braille Press (now Helen Keller International, Inc.) which only World
War II was to stop.
The creation of WCWB gave fresh hope to professional and amateur
musicians, as it recommended not only the extension of the 1929 Code
to meet new requirements, but also the universal adoption of a stan-
dardized form of presentation of texts in braille.
However, although there was idyllic agreement at the 1929 Con-
ference, that of 1954, also convened in Paris, erected an almost in-
surmountable barrier between the Enghsh-speaking countries and the
others. In fact, this Conference completely missed its principal aim,
which was to come to an agreement on the presentation of music in
braille; as we know, the delegates left the French capital in complete
disagreement on almost everything. But what is even more serious is
that the secretary of the Conference, the late Mr. Spanner, edited in
1956 a Revised Manual of Braille Music Notation "based on decisions
reached at the International Conference on Braille Music, Paris, 1954."
This is more in the nature of a treatise which, if it had not claimed to
interpret the "decisions" and the spirit of the Conference, would be
244
good and satisfactory, as it is so rich in material, tables and examples.
It is difficult to understand why the author decided to change many of
the signs adopted by the 1920 Conference.
All this, together with the refusal to collaborate with the delegates,
gave rise to indignation among the experts of other countries, who saw
the Code officially adopted by the English-speaking countries, without
taking into account contrary opinions.
This is why, in 1960, Dr. Reuss of the Federal Republic of Germany
was to present, in his turn, a treatise which took into account the
symbols adopted in 1929 and, at the same time, endeavoured to broaden
the whole subject.
From then on, the world of blind musicians was first of all confused,
then divided into two camps: the English-speaking world, which defends
the Spanner method, against the other, who see in Reuss's work the
continuation of a tradition officially recognized in 1929.
While I was able to collaborate from 1963 with Dr. Reuss up to the
time of his death, Mr. Spanner and Mr. Busbridge, Head of the Music
Department of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, have always
refused, be it very politely, an open and objective discussion on braille
music notation and, by so doing, have kept alive the division between
musicians.
On the other hand, it must be admitted that Dr. Reuss made the
mistake of publishing two editions in German and two in French, all
four in contrast with each other, whether concerning the presentation
of the text or the employment of some of the ordinal and ordinary signs.
In view of the failure of the 1954 Conference, and in order to reach an
agreement, at least between some countries, several national com-
missions were set up in the sixties which tried to find a satisfactory
solution. Thus, in 1967 and 1969, the German, Italian, Spanish and
French commissions, meeting in Italy and in Yugoslavia, reached
agreement on practically everything.
After having participated in certain meetings as a member of the
Italian Commission, in 1970 the Sub-Committee for Braille Music
Notation was set up within the context of the World Braille Committee
and I was asked to be chairman. These were the most productive years
for the advancement of the work for, thanks to the Italian Union of the
Blind and to the National Library in my country, I was able to arrange
bilateral contacts with French, German, Spanish and Czech experts,
where almost total agreement was reached. Once again I tried to
approach the British colleagues, notably Mr, Spanner himself and
Mr. Busbridge, but they did not wish to discuss the matter, asserting
that their notation worked very well. I then contacted Dr. Pielasch,
Secretary of the European Regional Committee, who stated officially
in Prague that there was no need for a standardized notation, as there
are now few blind musicians.
On the other hand, I received a very favourable response from Mr.
Kondratov, Vice-President of the All-Russia Association of the Blind,
but, in fact, his experts were already working on a new code in eight
braille volumes, largely based on the Reuss Code — so I have been told.
Suddenly, without ever having been informed about the dissolution
245
of the Committee created in 1970, Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill,
Chairman of WCWB Committee on Cuhural Affairs, requested me in
March 1977 to chair the sub-committee on Braille Music Codes, giving
me the names of the other members ; I do not know by whom they were
chosen or on what criteria, i.e. a lady from the USA, a Brazilian, a
Czech and a Japanese.
At this point I hastened to establish a working plan, which was
approved by the meeting of the Cultural Affairs Committee held in
Paris in August 1977. I began straight away to (a) increase the number
of experts I already had ; and (b) send the new members of the sub-
committee the first part of the agreements reached to date with the
other experts. However, with the exception of Mrs. Krolick of the USA,
with whom we did some very valuable work, thanks to her wilhngness,
her talent and her active support, which I cannot praise enough, I only
received one reply from the other members of the sub-committee during
a whole year. If all the members had replied as promptly as Mrs.
Krolick, I am sure we would have soon been able to have a fruitful
discussion and organize a conference to ratify the agreements; other-
wise, it is simply absurd to pursue useless work which entails years of
sacrifice. Besides, some members of the sub-committee are not sup-
ported by a committee invested with official powers, which means that
it is impossible to reach postive results.
As if this were not enough, our sub-committee cannot count on
financial support of any kind, even for preparing the first draft of a
code or simply a pamphlet to serve as a basis for discussion. . . . !
Therefore it only remains for me to resign, thanking the experts who
have helped me during these years, in particular Mrs. Krolick, who has
been of great encouragement to me and thanks to whom I hope at least
to create a good music notation for use in my country.
Finally, I should like to greet this Assembly and express the hope
that my eventual successor will be lucky enough to have better results
in the work which, in spite of all that has been affirmed, could still be
very useful to many colleagues who find in music an honourable means
of support and a source of satisfaction.
246
INFORMATION THROUGH THE SPOKEN WORD
"The Radio Programme for the Blind and Cooperation Through TV
and Other Audible Media"
by Hideyuki Iwahashi, Vice-President, WCWB
Today, TV, radio and newspapers are the main media for diffusing
the news and information all over the world.
In Japan, the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) started a
radio programme for the blind in 1964. This 30-minute programme is
broadcast on Sunday morning at 9.30 and again on Saturday at 13.00.
The NHK has about 1,700 programmes in all on radio and TV but
this is the only programme produced for which we would prefer there
to be no need, for it is originally a programme for the blind. Blind
listeners represent less than 0.1 per cent of the present radio audience,
but among the 250,000 blind people in Japan, 70 per cent of them follow
this programme. The programme covers various fields, such as topics
and news concerning the blind followed by discussions or explanations;
topics and personality of the month; introduction of various interest
groups; "Our Circles" through which listeners are invited to participate
in hobby circles; technical problems of administration or medical
information on moxabustion, massage, and acupuncture, etc. Prepara-
tions are now under way for a programme on Japanese Koto music
and the contributions blind people have made in the history of this
classical music.
Blind people's interest in hobbies, sports and recreation is just as
great and as enthusiastic as that of the sighted. Through radio and TV
the blind are becoming more interested in fishing, chess, go, cooking
and many kinds of sports. Many have learned the rules of golf through
TV and enjoy listening to the sound of the gold-ball falling into the hole.
There are also many sighted people who listen to the programmes for
the blind. One day, after the interview of a physiotherapist was broad-
cast, a number of people rushed to his clinic or made telephone calls to
ask for his advice. This series of interviews was really very successful.
Eighty blind people were chosen and interviewed at their place of work.
Among them were the president of a fishing company who is able to
account for his ships at work in the East China Sea with the help of
braille; a farmer who has succeeded in poultry-raising; a typist who is
working at a court of justice as a stenographer; a schoolmaster who
learned to use the abacus and is running an abacus school; the pres-
ident of a public works company who lost his sight and both arms
in the war and is still directing the workers as a supervisor, and so on.
These examples give hope and encouragement to those who have
become blind and have been driven to despair, or even to sighted people
who are wretched and hopeless. These interviews are recorded and
copies are available on loan at the two mam braille libraries in Japan.
247
More than 100 copies are used monthly by schools for the blind,
groups or individuals.
Besides these radio programmes designed for the blind, there are
many kinds of spots sponsored by the large industries and shown
between the regular programmes of TV. For instance, under the title
"Can you walk on the street blind-folded ?" a blind man with a white
cane or a guide-dog is shown crossing the road. Then instructions are
given as to how to guide a blind man properly. It is just a half-minute
spot but seems to be quite effective. Usually, I go to my office by train,
changing twice at the large, crowded stations in Osaka. Since this spot
was shown, there is always someone who kindly asks me if I need his
help.
AH over Japan, around public facihties, at the railway stations and
at the main street crossings, we find that part of the ground is paved
with special paving stones. These are 30 cm square with 36 raised dots
on the surface. Each dot is 3.5 cm in diameter and 0.6 cm high.
Naturally, this is to help the blind find their way but, at the same time,
it reminds the sighted of the blind and their difficulties. Consequently,
public understanding of and cooperation with the visually handicapped
are very much increasing.
Another traffic aid for the blind is the sound-signal. A simple melody
or the twitter of a bird tell the blind when to cross the road. There are
some who complain that it is noisy, but even the kindergarten children
and old people know it is the signal for the blind. The braille indication
on the automatic sales-machines, too, is a silent appeal to the sighted
for their cooperation.
NHK has built the bridges between the sighted and the blind and
between blind people themselves through the radio programme. The
spots on the TV, the sound signal, the dotted pavement, and the braille
indications at public places call the attention of the public to the need
for cooperation with the blind, who are small in number and apt to be
passive. We should realize the importance of PR from our side to
enlist the cooperation of the sighted.
248
TECHNOLOGY OF AND FOR THE BLIND
by Jim Bronson, United States of America
This paper is about how international cooperation and coordination
can lead to better technical aids for blind people — specifically, how to
get more quality for a lower price.
Recent Industry Growth
Think back for a moment about the technological aids for the blind
that were available at the time of our last World Assembly in Sao
Paulo, and now compare that with the situation today. There has been
a dramatic growth in what may be called the blindness industry. From
a few pioneering groups in 1974 we now have at least three manu-
facturers of electronic mobility aids, at least four developers and manu-
facturers of print reading machines, five electronic braille devices out
and more being developed, a range of medium and high speed paper
braille embossing machines emerging, and, for partially sighted, a
multitude of television magnification systems. In addition, develop-
ments in the micro-electronics field have opened the way for synthetic
speech to convey information quickly and easily in everything from
electronic calculators to telephone switchboards, computerized games,
and sophisticated print readers.
What do all of these industrial developments mean to the bhnd
consumer? In my experience, technology has given blind people both
hope and disappointment; for some, expanded job opportunities or
better education; for others, bitter frustration because a device's
potential was oversold by its enthusiastic developers, or because it only
worked a short time and then couldn't be fixed, or because it cost a lot
of money but it too quickly became obsolete.
Industry Achievements
How about the successes of the bUndness industry ? These successes
have led to major changes in legislation. For instance, in some deve-
loped countries there are large scale funding programs to disseminate
technical aids nationwide. Also, in some developing countries training
centers for technical aids have been established, both through the
efforts of highly dedicated individuals in the developing countries and
through the gift of international assistance from organizations abroad,
a good number of whom are represented in this room today.
Technology is offering more independent living and upward mobility
to blind people. Thousands of blind users worldwide and increasing
sales of aids show that we can expect further dramatic changes by the
time this group reconvenes in 1984. What will the blindness industry
look like fiien ?
249
I would like to suggest some guidelines in applying technology for
the blind so that in 1984 we can look back on five years of a maximum
of technological successes and a minimum of disappointments.
Over these coming five years a lot of money (both public and private)
is going to be spent to make technical aids. I hope that my guidelines
will help increase the effectiveness of these capital investments so that
the blind consumer really gets the increased independence and earning
power that modern technical aids can offer.
Suggested Industry Guidelines
First. Standards of excellence must be put forward to developers and
manufacturers to ensure the following:
Performance Specifications (does it do what they say it does ?)
Reliability (has it been well designed and skillfully made to
minimize failures ?)
Training Support (are appropriate materials and techniques
available for training users — are the materials in braille, on
cassette or in apporpriate languages ?)
Service Support (when failures occur, have repair parts and a skilled
repairman been provided for ?)
Conscientious Distribution (is an experienced person available in
the country to help with importation, training, applications
information and organizing funding?)
In short, is the manufacturer taking responsibihty for supporting his
products and customers, or is there a quick disappearance after the sale ?
Second. Devices must meet real needs of the blind users. No matter
how interesting the technology is, have objective studies been carried
out with sufficiently large populations of bhnd people to determine the
benefits and the conditions in which these benefits are obtained ?
Here it is interesting to note how many blind people are employed
by the manufacturer and at what levels of authority. That is, are blind
people giving input at each stage of planning, production and dis-
tribution of the device ? If so, there is a better chance that the technology
will be serving blind people rather than bhnd people serving the
technology — that is, serving as the reason for attempting a marginally
useful but technologically intriguing objective.
Third, There must be a reasonable expectation that devices will not
quickly become obsolete. A user of a technical aid invests time and a lot
of positivity in incorporating it into his or her life. The purchaser
invests money, which is usually allocated at the expense of some other
highly deserving projects. All three investments (time, positivity and
money) are very significant and they deserve a strong effort into the
future to keep the device up-to-date and moving with the times.
Are there provisions for incorporating new technological advances,
even in the early manufactured units? How about accessories? Is the
device flexible enough to grow with the user and meet future needs ? Is
the manufacturer committed to his products, to expanding its potential,
or is this a sideline interest that may fall away because of pressures in
the mainline business ?
250
A good indicator of long term potential in a product is the organiza-
tional stability of the manufacturer. If the device is purchased today, is
there reason to believe that service, spare parts and other support will
be there next month, next year, ten years from now? Does the manu-
facturer have adequate financial resources? Can he compete in to-
morrow's world for the skilled personnel who will make long term
growth happen?
It is appropriate that we examine these suggested guidelines now,
amend them as needed and then urge every organization of and for the
blind to use them. Consumer advocacy in the field of technological aids
for the blind is coming of age now, and it needs to be organized,
visible, responsible and bold.
Proposed "Industrial Affairs" Subcommittee
Let me read in part from our constitution under Article II, Purposes
and Functions. "To achieve its aims the Council shall, in particular,
work towards the direction of eflforts for the introduction of minimum
standards for the welfare of the blind in all parts of the world and the
improvement of such standards."
I suggest, then, that an appropriate subcommittee be formed
specifically to cooperate with developers and manufacturers in the
blindness industry to ensure the highest quality possible. It could be
composed of representatives from industry, development and research
institutes, service agencies and blind consumers. You might call this an
"Industrial Affairs" group. Its functions could include the following:
Suggested Subcommittee Functions
(1) Promote standards of excellence.
This is largely an educational task. The WCWB, along with IFB
and ICEVH, are the leaders who can raise the consciousness of
the industry that serves blind people. If the best is expected, the
best will be obtained.
(2) Ensure that devices meet real needs.
Here international coordination of evaluation studies done by
member countries can minimize duplication of eff"orts and increase
the spread of well-considered information.
(3) Call for needed developments.
By this, I mean focusing attention on needs of the blind that can
be met with technology. This could be through consultation with
potential developers, those groups or government agencies who
may give money for the development, and appropriate technical
committees of the International Organizations. Here is a great
opportunity for eliminating duplications of effort through inter-
national coordination.
(4) Promote Standardization of key product features.
Every industry has its standards authority. The work begun in
Paris last year towards an agreement on cassette braille recording
formats was a brave beginning, but the situation was already
251
beyond the stage where agreement was possible. However, there
are other opportunities for standards. For instance, a standard
code is needed foi formatting material when going from electronic
braille to a printed or embossed page.
(5) Assist in achieving effective legislation.
The laws in one country supporting technical aids may influence
the adoption of similar laws elsewhere. In this age of large
government programs, member countries can benefit from sharing
their experiences. As a classic American writer once said, "Nothing
-^ succeeds hke success."
(6) Develop international purchasing power.
Bulk orders generally get a lower price. If international agreement
can produce orders large enough to bring the manufacturer's
unit cost down, then the savings can be shared with the buyer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to refer to our theme. With cooperation
(and some hard work) I feel that the blindness industry has the potential
of transforming many blind people from being welfare recipients into
being independent producers in our economic system. Good technology
intelligently applied can allow blind people to be increasingly productive
members of society. And when this is achieved all parties gain — the
blind person, the government, private agencies and society as a whole.
252
THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF BASIC EQUIPMENT
FOR BLIND PEOPLE
by Mr. Cedric W. Garland, Technical Officer
Royal National Institute for the Blind, United Kingdom
Sir John Wilson recently said: "Nobody knows how many Wind
people there are in the world. Certainly the minimum estimate of
sixteen million is likely to be an understatement."
However many there really are, one thing is quite certain, they will
all be needing day to day assistance towards living in an essentially
sighted world, and a large range of devices has been developed to help
towards this end.
The latest edition of the International Guide to Aids and Appliances
for blind and visually impaired persons published by the American
Foundation for the Blind, lists out over 1,500 devices as being available
from 270 different distributors in 28 countries, and this listing is by no
means complete due to the recent rapid development in the field of
electronics which has been readily applicable to the needs of the
visually handicapped.
One can perhaps state the need for devices in three general categories
of person. Firstly for the younger age grouping, aids for education are
the most important. Secondly for those of working age emphasis must
be placed on aids for employment coupled with the need for good
mobility in getting to and from that employment. Thirdly, by far the
greatest population of blind people are the elderly for v^hom aids are
required largely for purposes of domesticity and leisure. Such generalisa-
tion is of course an over simplification of the true situation and within
each of these categories one finds the need for both special purpose
devices such as a braille computer terminal for the blind programjner,
as well as the more general-purpose aids like braille writing equipment
or walking stick or cane for which there is a large world-wide demand.
With sixteen million customers in mind, this paper is concerned with
this latter type of device to which we are referring as "basic equipment
for the blind" or equipment which is universal in its application by
blind people to meet a common need, and our interest lies in how such
equipment could be produced economically. This question is rather
difficult to answer because what would be considered economic in one
country might be found quite uneconomic elsewhere ; however it must
be observed that equipment for the blind does tend to be more ex-
pensive than comparable equipment for the sighted, the cost for
instance of possibly the world's most widely-used braille writing
machine compared with that of an ordinary mechanical typewriter,
indicates that the braille writer is three to four times as costly. Mecha-
nically these machines compare fairly well in complexity and the main
253
reason the braille writer is so costly is that it is produced in relatively
small quantity.
Most of those organizations for the blind that are concerned with the
manufacture of aids for their national or local blind population, will be
faced with this common problem of dealing mainly with fairly small
quantity manufacture, and this is aggravated by a degree of uncertainty
as to the rate at which these aids will be sold once manufactured, so
over-production is avoided, also no guarantee exists as to when and
what size will be future repeat manufacturing orders. This all adds up
to a rather unsatisfactory situation v/here rarely can one justify ex-
tensive expenditure on manufacturing tooling, with the result that there
is a high proportion of manual activity in the manufacturing process
and because of this the cost of the end product will inevitably be high.
In Western Countries the cost of labour is very high and economic
production of any manufactured item lies in reducing the human
involvement to a minimima by investing substantial finance in tooling
to render the manufacturing process as automatic as possible; this in
turn usually demands long production runs so that tool costs can be
recovered over a large number of articles produced without making
those articles too expensive. In the field of equipment for the blind such
long manufacturing runs rarely occur and this is perhaps not surprising
because, take for example braille pocket frames; on examination of the
previously mentioned International Guide one finds listed some 84
different frames being manufactured for 16 distributors in 12 countries;
quantity demand therefore exists but it is spread very thinly between
these distributors.
One must observe that many of these frames, made in both plastic
and metal in different countries, have in fact a great similarity in design
and function and it is difficult to understand how one can justify the
need for so many variations of such a basic aid. This situation has no
doubt evolved over very many years when the cost of manufacturing
labour was not a significant factor but the answer to reducing costs
today must lie in the adoption of modern manufacturing techniques
and somehow substantially increasing manufacturing quantity in order
to gain the financial benefits offered by long run manufacture.
The only possibility of doing this would appear to lie in some agree-
ment being reached as to what would constitute an internationally
acceptable range of frames having an internationally acceptable size of
braille cell in order that fewer manufacturers could produce for a
world market. '
Having considerably longer quantities one might then justify the use
of modern automatic or semi-automatic manufacturing tooling, prob-
ably financed by international resources. The setting up time for the
tooling, being spread over longer runs, would also contribute to a
reduction in cost of the finished article as would the bulk purchase of the
materials involved. This is probably the thinking of those organizations
that have invested much money in injection moulds in order to produce
very inexpensive braille frames; they will however need a world-wide
market to recover their tool costs if that is their intention.
254
Sophisticated tooling is usually very expensive as is the cost of labour
and machine time; the more automatic the tooling is the less becomes
the machine time and labour involved, thus the configuration of equip-
ment and manpower adopted in any manufacturing process is a fairly
fine balance of choice related to the degree of productivity and on the
finance to be invested, which in turn dictates the cost of the end product.
As mentioned before, normal commercial engineering practice is to
recover the cost of tooling and its maintenance by placing a small
percentage charge on each of the articles produced from that tooling;
however, even if articles like braille frames were produced more cen-
trally the length of production run would probably still be small in
comparison to commercial levels. One way of reducing the cost of
articles for the blind is for the tool cost to be absorbed by those
organizations that might be concerned in such an international manu-
facturing venture. With this arrangement the tooling is jointly owned
by those organizations and its ongoing maintenance charges would
also be their responsibility.
The suggestion for an international standardization of aids and
appliances is by no means new; it has been argued that the present
wide selection of aids produced in so many countries provides blind
people with a wide choice to suit personal preferences and local needs,
and to reduce this choice would be a retrograde event. Similarly most
organizations involved with the manufacture of aids may also feel a
preference to retain close control and influence over their own manu-
facturing programme and quality control. However, with certain specific
exceptions, the question of standardization of aids has only been dis-
cussed in a rather general way without the constraints of our present
subject referring to purely basic equipment, or those aids which are
known to be of elementary necessity to blind people which could be so
reduced in cost by high volume production. The items of equipment
envisaged include canes, braille writing aids and the relevant sizes of
braille paper, diagram-making instruments, geographical and other
educational equipment, etc., in other words those items for everyday
use which have universal application, where larger quantity production
should lead to manufacturing economy.
Many organizations including the RNIB have a very large selection
of canes and sticks available to suit most people's choice, we however
at the RNIB still occasionally import canes to satisfy particular indivi-
duals' preferences and for experimental purposes. The features designed
into RNIB canes are dictated not by the RNIB but by blind people
themselves who participate in field trials with prototypes prior to
quantity production. I mention this as an example of a basic device
where our designs have evolved over many years of trial and error and
from my experience I must make the observation that it would proably
be a very difficult matter indeed to obtain a concensus of opinion on an
international scale as to the qualities required of one or more models
for large scale manufacture for world use; however if the financial
benefits of large scale long run production are considered important,
the cane is perhaps an ideal device to commence with as an initiating
255
trial in international cooperation, especially now that the long cane
technique is so widely adopted.
The further standardization in design or dimension is carried out,
the more can production be facilitated, notably by permitting the use
of standard tools having application to many products or parts of
products, as distinct from the need for special tools having severely
limited application. Product design for large batch production is quite
a different matter from design for the small batch manufacture with
which most producers of equipment for the blind have to contend.
Standardization involves a very important aspect of design, particularly
in engineering where the tendency with aids for the blind has been to
design for performance or service rather than for production. Designing
for production as well as performance opens greater opportunity for
economy in manufacture by widening the choice of materials, machines
and processes which can be adopted. Actually any method that shortens
the production cycle from the rough material stage to the tested final
product, not only results in better service to the customer but minimizes
the period during which money is unproductive in the form of work in
progress.
Metal braille frames are a very good example of devices for the blind
which have largely evolved rather than having been designed ; they would
present an interesting economic exercise if large quantity manufacture
was possible in the investigation of modern processes and materials, as
opposed to the traditional embossing and piercing methods currently
used.
The economic production of aids for the blind is not purely a matter
of consideration being given to producing a large quantity of any
particular device that already exists, but firstly specifying the qualities
required of the aid to meet international user requirements. This no
doubt would entail making comparisons between existing devices in
order to specify the required product; it does however necessitate that
a standardization be arrived at by general consent. The development of
that device for production to suit the estimated manufacturing quanti-
ties required on, say, an annual basis, is a highly skilled matter where
manufacturing process, choice and quality of material, quality control
and reliability of the end product are all taken into account. The next
step lies in the production of design drawings and preferably samples
for trial and circulation to those potential manufacturers who possess
the necessary plant and skills to produce the device to an acceptable
world standard, in order to obtain competitive cost estimates for both
the manufacturing tooling and ultimate production. The countries
selected to quote for this undertaking would depend largely on the
economics of the day, the availability of materials and the technology
involved and where trade barriers do not exist.
The question of financing such a venture is of course a matter which
only the WCWB can consider, as is the question of monitoring the
production programmes which ideally can only be satisfactorily carried
out by organizations normally resident in the countries where manu-
facture would take place, to ensure that the various stages of production
are working smoothly and on schedule, and to undertake at least an
256
ongoing sampling inspection of the finished product to ensure that
quality is maintained.
Distribution should be carried out via those institutions or organiza-
tions concerned with the well-being of blind people, in order to take
full financial advantage of duty-free importation as arranged under the
Florence Agreement, which will be applicable provided equivalent
articles are not already being manufactured in the importing country.
I mentioned earlier that the long cane would perhaps be a suitable
device for which to carry out an initial investigation into the economic
advantages that can be gained from long run production. One cannot
quote examples of the financial savings possible without going through
the preparatory stages for production which I have listed or without
knowing the quantity of canes likely to be involved. Such a study
would however provide the World Council with a factual indication of
the likely financial benefits so that comparison can be made with the
cost of long canes now available from many countries. If that study
could be carried out by all those countries at present producing long
canes, all working to the same specification, the exercise will be very
much more informative.
257
ECONOMIC PRODUCTION OF BASIC EQUIPMENT
by Marvin Berkowitz, Ph.D.
Associate Director for Advanced Development
American Foundation for the Bhnd, Inc.
The economic production of basic products compensating for vision
loss is subject to the overriding problem of low demand. Despite the
prevalence of about 42 million persons in the world with visual acuity
of 20/200 or less (a level considered as legal blindness in a number of
industrialized countries), few nations in the v/orld have populations of
bhnd persons so large that the most efficient production techniques can
be employed to satisfy the demand. In those countries, like India with
over 10 million blind, where the annual incidence of blindness remains
so high that the most efficient production techniques might be utihzed
to satisfy the potential need, the ejfective demand of purchasers ready
to buy is either small because comprehensive rehabilitation of the blind
is at an early stage of development, or competition between producing
organizations splinters the potential demand, or the potential users do
not have an awareness of or the funds to purchase products. This means
that the requirements of the lowest cost production methods achieving
economies of scale are rarely satisfied.
The problems of economic manufacture of products complementing
the basic equipment for the blind in the more industrial nations are
somewhat different but follow also from manufacturing for low annual
demand. In such instances, prices tend to be high, often two to fifty
times higher for products performing the same functions designed for
sighted persons — to illustrate, talking electronic calculators are being
marketed for $400 in the United States at a time when calculators with
visual displays are available for $10.
The price differentials of products designed for the general population
that are adapted for use by the blind are lower than for specially
produced devices but are none the less troublesome to the blind
purchasers. It is not uncommon for adapted braille watches or clocks
to sell at prices one and a half to two times those of unadapted models.
In the United States, the Howe Press and the American Printing
House for the Blind produce most of the writing and measuring aids
categorized as basic equipment. Some 30,000 legally Wind school-
children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools are the major
consumers of these products. Perhaps 3,000 new enrolments occur each
year that have new needs for rulers, protractors, braille slates, etc. In
addition, there is a replacement demand. But the overall demand for
any single item remains small and does not permit long production runs
unless several years' supply is to be manufactured for inventory.
Producing for large inventory ties up capital and is not something that
firms like to do except where material scarcities exist resulting in long
258
lead times or there are complex and cost production set-ups. The
American Foundation for the Blind produces few items that we have
categorized as basic equipment but prefers to distribute products of
other organizations where possible because to duplicate the already
excess production capacity of other manufacturers for so small a
market would be wasteful of this agency's scarce capital funds and
infringe upon the ability of other organizations to achieve any econo-
mies of scale, which are ultimately passed on to the purchaser.
In the case of canes, we have yet to develop specifications for a small
number of different canes useful in different environments and for
different purposes that are acceptable to blind travellers. Hence different
cane models proliferate the field — each one being produced in relatively
small numbers for different size lengths. It is an unhappy situation for
the consumer who largely cannot tell one cane from another.
Basic equipment compensating for the loss of vision is a relative
term, usually taken to mean primarily those items essential for literacy,
accurate measurement, counting and mobility. In particular, we take
basic equipment to include, among other items:
1. Braille slates, styluses and erasers;
2. Simple measuring instruments —
rulers, measuring rules and tapes (metric and English), compasses,
protractors ;
3. Raised line drawing tools —
e.g., tools with spur wheels;
4. Writing guides and pads for print, script, or raised line drawings;
5. A.bacus;
6. Rigid long canes.
Of course, the fist may be extended; many of these products stem
from needs of a formal academic education.*
The demand for all special products for the blind stems from the
functions in the society which the products aim to support and satisfy.
In a sense, one fundamental question in determining priorities for
preparing basic equipment is "what activities would the individuals of a
given society be performing if they were not blind?" In societies where
written communication is not a familiar part of daily life, where print
magazines and books are relatively unavailable, where measurements
are usually made in terms of strides or hand lengths, the demand for
writing and measuring instruments is limited for all persons. In some
countries, adult literacy rates are low, and one of the few times that an
individual needs to write is to sign his/her name in order to vote. In
other countries, arithmetic and counting skills for most of the popula-
tion may be limited to the ability to use cash money as a medium of
exchange.
In societies in which people do not normally venture out of their
immediate home environments or villages, and where travel is visually
* See, for example, the handsome and beautifully made Vohas braille education
kits prepared by Volrho Ltd., 19, J. N. Keredia Marg, Ballard Estate, Bombay
4G0-038, India.
259
along well-trodden roads and grooved footpaths, as for example to the
village or family well, the need for orientation and mobility training is
less than in a more mobile society. This also reduces demand for mobi-
lity aids which are basic equipment in more urbanized societies where
individuals need to travel out of their immediate environments in order
to survive. The point is that the overall plans for economic development
and the likely family and community roles of sighted persons in a given
society become guides to roles which blind persons may strive to attain.
In a rural society the needs of a blind person are likely to be the needs
of a farmer.*
The selection of appropriate technology needs also to be guided by
an assessment of the integration of the disabled persons, including the
blind, into the society of a given country.
As well, in most developing nations, production of basic products
needs to follow from specification of short-term national goals and
objectives for rehabilitation of the bhnd.
Free public school education at the primary and secondary levels is
not yet universal for children in many developing countries. In a
number of countries where free education is provided, it is not com-
pulsory. In both the developing and more advanced economies, in-
accessibility, inadequate financial resources, insufficient educational
equipment and lack of qualified staif are often obstacles to obtaining a
formal education even where school is free and compulsory. These
factors set the background for the education of blind children. Blind
children are admitted to public schools in limited numbers in many
countries and there may be considerable competition for places. In
some countries, there may be only one special residential school for the
blind. School enrolment of the blind, then, probably sets a limit on the
effective demand for many basic products for the blind since blind
persons who are not in school are unlikely to have the funds to purchase
aids, or the awareness of and access to them.
Another source of demand is rehabilitation centers providing training
in survival skills, activities of daily living, orientation and mobility and
vocational skills. In the developing countries, such rehabilitation pro-
grams often are facsimiles of services found in the more advanced
nations. Rehabilitation opportunities are usually limited and subject to
the same constraints as those in schools — shortages of special equip-
ment, shortages of trained personnel, shortages of financial resources.
To illustrate, the first permanent orientation and mobility center in
Asia was recently established in Indonesia. Even so, as is sometimes the
case in the more industrial economies, the acquisition of sophisticated
rehabilitation skills at urban centers in the developing economies, may
be inconsistent with a simpler village lifestyle.
In the developing economies, prevocational preparation and voca-
tional guidance services for the blind are relatively rare. Workshops
* Some typical tasks include: collecting water; bundling and tying grass and
straw; cleaning a cow shed; feeding livestock; loading and unloading soil in bullock
carts; pounding, grinding and sifting grain.
260
responsible for enhancement of aptitudes and skills are attached to
some school for the blind, but placement services other than those in
centers where training is conducted is uncommon. Among the voca-
tional training courses, training of the blind for jobs as switchboard
operators, vending stand operators, packaging and assembly work,
light manufacture and teaching appear to be the most common.
The government is usually responsible for initiating vocational
rehabilitation although church or private initiation of small programs
is a regular occurrence.
The third source of demand for basic equipment stems from the
employment opportunities of the blind. In the advanced economies,
labor force participation of adults unable to see well enough to read
regular print is half to one-third the level of sighted persons. In the
developing economies where unemployment and underemployment is a
more common way of life for the able-bodied, the blind fare worse.
About three-quarters of the population of these nations live in rural
areas which are basically agricultural economies, wherein light manu-
facture and cooperative agricultural ventures supplement small sub-
sistence level family farming. With many able-bodied persons unable
to find paid employment, countries are hard pressed to establish
preference standards for the blind which would largely be unenforceable
anyway. Cultural, religious and social differences about how the blind,
disabled and sick are viewed in society, and the role of the extended
family in taking care of its less fortunate members vary also and set the
tone and goals for government programs as well as determining the
rehabiUtation potential of individuals. For example, the continued
functioning of the caste system in India determines the life work of
fathers and sons despite government decrees making the traditional
caste system illegal. Legislative provisions reserving certain occupations
for the blind, setting job quotas or anti-discrimination guidelines for the
blind workers are not common. Opportunities in sheltered workshops
are preferred in some countries in attempting to secure paid employ-
ment for blind persons but resettling persons from rural villages to these
center-based facilities can be an emotional and practical problem.
Given all of the above constraints, the economic production of basic
equipment follows the general requirements of economic production of
any goods. For each product the following steps are required:
1 . Clear definition of the products to be produced — this includes the
specification of the desired features, how the product and each
component is to operate following from the component's function.
Ideally this is based on a human factors analysis of the needs of
users and their capacity to employ the device in various settings.
Consideration of similar products available from other countries,
or products that may be copied or produced under license, should
be given here.
2. Estimation of the annual demand for the product at various prices
for each of the coming five years. High and low estimates re-
flecting a range of use under differing assumptions should be given.
261
3. Translation of the product definition into one or more alternate
production designs, including dimensional sketches, layouts and
blueprints. This should detail all component parts and quantities.
4. For each alternative production design, specification of the capital,
equipment, material and labor needs for start-up as well as once
production has begun. This may include work sampling and time
and motion analysis of production steps, product or line layout,
and an assessment of tool and die or molding requirements.
Consideration of quality control and inspection requirements for
each approach should be given.
5. Determination of the costs of all factors of production specified in
the product designs — labor, materials, equipment, capital for
inventory and procurement.
6. Preparation of total and unit production costs. Questions like over
how long a period research, engineering design and start-up
expenses that are to be amortized come up at this point. Distri-
bution, marketing and warehousing expenses and those to cover
warranty and maintenance must also be assessed.
7. Specification of constraints for :
(a) importation;
(b) capital resources for tooling up and manufacture;
(c) the availability of labor of the skills required;
(d) availability of equipment;
(e) availability of facilities for production, inventory and
marketing ;
(f) organization of quality control and maintenance;
(g) organization of production/manufacturing plans and stan-
dards.
8. Determination of preferred production approaches given the
demand, available resources, specification of production alterna-
tives and constraints. This step also includes preparation of break-
even points with each alternative production approach.
The problems of production in developing economies are more
severe because of limited capital, shortages of skilled craftsmen and
import restrictions intended to conserve foreign exchange. Scarce
foreign exchange means that some countries cannot readily import the
500-1,000 braille slates that they need each year, nor second-hand
equipment to produce these locally, and are induced to manufacture
these products uneconomically. Low quality is also a common but
unfortunate consequence.
There are many ways to prepare basic equipment, and the appropriate
technology should depend on the availability and costs of resources.
There is probably not a better mobility aid in many countries than a
long bamboo stick cut to the appropriate length ; the tapered and shaped
hollow aluminum shaft that has become the standard as a mobility aid
in the developed economies probably has little to speak for it in rural
parts of Africa or India. But lightweight aluminum or nickel plate
braille slates that are well-machined and finished provide the kind of
262
durability and standardized cell size that makes their use in the deve-
loping countries advantageous. A steel wire set into a wooden handle
is an easily prepared and adequate stylus.
There is a great scope for utilizing unemployed and underemployed
workers from a large available labor force in the less developed nations
which would not be economically viable in the industrially more
advanced nations. Nevertheless, there is a general tendency in the
developing countries to be fascinated by technology and to attempt
employment of the most up-to-date techniques for all kinds of products.
These techniques have usually been developed in the industrially
advanced nations and are mostly aimed at substituting equipment for
labor because of rising wages. In the developing countries, capital
intensive approaches are often identified with industrial progress and
have a prestige value. In addition, equipment oriented production
processes avoid the problems of more labor intensive manufacturing —
wages, fringe benefits, facilities for employers, unions. These factors
tend to operate against use of economically appropriate technology
and the correct proportions of labor and capital equipment.
An economic approach to production argues for the conservation of
capital, and the careful selection of products for local manufacture, as
outlined in the above steps, only in such instances where the unit
production costs are many times less than the prices of comparable
products bought from abroad. Again this follows from the overriding
issue of low demand in the forseeable future and the need, in the
developing nations, to utilize scarce capital resources wisely by manu-
facturing or purchasing high quality basic products that will last a
number of years.
References
(1) AGARWALA, A. N. and SI"NGH, S. P. 77?^ Economics of Underdevelopment.
New York: Oxford University Press, 1963.
(2) BARANSON, Jack Manufacturing Problems in India, New York: Syracuse
University Press, 1967.
(3) BOON, Gerald Karel Economic Choice of Human and Physical Factors in
Production. Amsterdam: North-Holland Publishing Co., 1964.
(4) JAEKLE, Robert, "Rehabilitation of Blind Persons in Rural India", Journal
of Visual Impairment and Blindness, June 1977, pp. 241-247.
(5) WORLD COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE BLIND, Proceedings
of the World Assemblv of the WCWB, August 7-16, October 8-17, 1969.
(6) WORLD COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF THE BLIND, Rehabilitation
Services for the Blind in Developing Countries. Paris, 1977.
(7) WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, Prevention of Blindness. Technical
Report Series No. 518, General, 1973.
(8) WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, WHO Programme Advisory Group
on the Prevention of Blindness. "Report of the First Meeting, Geneva,
19-22 February 1979." WHO/PBL/79.1.
263
UNESCO/WCWB COOPERATION TOWARDS
RE-PUBLICATION OF "WORLD BRAILLE USAGE"
Mrs. Helga Barraud, in charge of the Unesco Cooperative Action
Programme, gave a brief description of the type of assistance projects
jointly promoted by the WCWB and the Co-Action Programme.
During 1978/79 over US $45,000 worth of contributions w^ere received
from Co- Action partners in Belgium, Canada, France, Federal Republic
of Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the
USA to assist institutes for the blind in the developing countries with
the purchase of special equipment. Eighteen countries received aid
under this project.
Mrs. Barraud referred to a ceremony that took place at Unesco in
1978 when the Director-General of Unesco was presented with a
cheque for US $25,000 donated by the Board of Directors of Gestetner
Holdings Ltd., to be used for the publication of a new edition of the
major reference work World Braille Usage. She appealed to all the
WCWB member organizations represented to provide Unesco with
their respective braille alphabets and any other materials which could
be useful to the designated WCWB Braille consultant, Mr. W. B. L.
Poole, formerly of the Royal National Institute for the Blind, London,
England. The English language edition of the new World Braille Usage
should be available early in 1981— UN International Year of the Dis-
abled. Additional financial assistance would have to be sought to meet
the costs of inkprint and braille editions of the manual in different
languages.
Several participants expressed their appreciation of Unesco's work
in favour of the visually handicapped and offered their Associations'
support.
264
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 10
COOPERATION IN FULFILLING UNMET NEEDS
Wednesday morning, August 8, 1979
Chairman: Mr. Boris V. Zimin, USSR
REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF
THE COMMITTEE ON SERVICES TO THE DEAF-BLIND
by Anders Arnor
As we meet today to hear about the activities of the Committee on
Services to the Deaf-BHnd during the five-year period just concluded,
our thoughts naturally go to the late Dr. Richard Kinney who with
such success led the work of this committee until the very day he died
in March this year. I would like to quote our friend Eric Boulter who
said in his obituary that "Richard Kinney through his briUiant mind,
fluent pen and personal example became a well-known and highly
respected personality and a powerful leader", not only within our
committee but of all those who try to improve the conditions of the
deaf-blind in the world. The loss we feel is a great one and his memory
will forever live with us.
Significant of the spirit of his work is what he said himself upon his
election at the General Assembly in Sao Paulo in 1974 as Chairman of
the Committee on Services to the Deaf-Blind. "I accept this post with
pleasure as a challenging opportunity to serve the committee".
His first task was to appoint the other members of his committee. It
has during this period consisted of the following persons :
Mr. Suresh C." Ahuja, India
Mr. Anders Arnor, Sweden
Mr. Eric T. Boulter, United Kingdom
Mr. Wally Christiansen, New Zealand
Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Gerritt van der Mey, Netherlands
Mr. Ross C. Purse, Canada
Dr. Edward J. Waterhouse, USA
Dr. Kinney also immediately took the initiative to implement the
Resolution adopted by the Sao Paulo assembly on Action for the Deaf-
BHnd, a document which by the way very clearly reflected his personal
thoughts and ideas. Thus, he created the following four sub-committees :
265
The sub-committee on Known Populations, Existing Programs,
Research
The sub-committee on Unidentified Populations, Needed
Programs, Research
The sub-commiuee on Input from Organizations of the Deaf-
Blind and Individuals
The sub-committee on Helen Keller World Conference on
Services to Deaf-Blind Adults
The plans for the historic First Helen Keller World Conference on
Services to Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults were drafted at a meeting in
London in June 1976, and the conference was held on September 11 to
16 the following year at the New York Statler Hilton Hotel. This
conference has earned the reputation of being one of the best organized
and most successful of the international conferences of WCWB. It was
carried out in cooperation with the Helen Keller National Center for
Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, with the valuable financial support
provided by the Social and Rehabilitation Administration of the
United States' Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The
theme of the conference was "The Deaf-Blind Person in the Com-
munity". Nearly 200 persons from 30 nations took part, and to our
great satisfaction this number included many deaf-blind persons. Each
session opened with the presentation of two papers, and this was
followed by group discussions which later were summarized in reports
written by the respective group chairmen. The conference participants
also had the opportunity to make a highly interesting and well-organized
full-day visit to the Helen Keller National Center for the Deaf-Blind on
Long Island. The highlight of the conference was the adoption at the
Closing Session of a Declaration on the Rights of the Deaf-Blind which
has been given a very extensive distribution among governmental and
non-governmental organizations all over the world. It is also included
in the report which has been sent to all WCWB's member countries. It
can still be obtained from WCWB's Headquarters in Paris, in ink print,
large print, and a Braille version in English.
The Committee on Services to the Deaf-Blind decided at a meeting in
Hanover, West Germany, in June 1978, to approach the United Nations
Social and Economic Council, in order to have the Resolution on the
Rights of the Deaf-Blind included and approved at the United Nations
next General Assembly. I take greatest pleasure in informing you now
that the Declaration will indeed be put before the UN General Assembly
at its 34th session, as Item 79 on the Preliminary Agenda. The com-
mittee also discussed in Hanover the im.plementation of the Recom-
mendations made by the Working Groups at the conference in New
York in 1977. One of the tangible results of these recommendations is
the Monography on Specific Aspects of Deaf-Blindness and Services to
Deaf-Blind People which, thanks to the kind assistance of Dr. Edward
Waterhouse, is available in print at this General Assembly.
A third and very important decision was made by the Committee,
when it agreed to hold the Second International Helen Keller Con-
ference during 1980 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth
266
of Miss Keller. The Committee has kindly been invited by the repre-
sentative from the Federal Republic of Germany to hold this conference
in Hanover from Monday, July 21 to Friday, July 25, 1980. The con-
ference theme will be "Responsible Independence for Deaf-Blind
People". A few guidelines for the conference were drawn up at the last
meeting, but the actual planning was referred to a Program Committee
which will meet in Hanover at the end of August this year.
We certainly all feel that it was both an unnecessary and untimely
whim of fate to take Dr. Richard Kinney from us while he was in the
midst of his plans for the very important and great year of 1980. Let me
therefore conclude my report by quoting what he wrote to me in his
last letter dated January 1979:
"If we as deaf-blind people are accorded the opportunity to be
responsible for our own community responsibility, then we have
achieved a great deal towards transforming theoretical rights into
practical realities".
267
roENTEFYING UNMET NEEDS IN CANADA
by Ross C. Purse, Managing Director
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
It is a privilege for me to appear on this morning's program. I have
been asked to report to you on the Unmet Needs of Blind Persons in
my country, Canada. This task has been made relatively easy for me,
since in 1975 and 1976, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind
initiated a survey of Unmet Needs of Blind Canadians. I shall, therefore,
review with you the results of that survey "Vision Canada", and I shall
also indicate remedial steps that have been taken since its publication
to improve conditions of blind persons and to prevent blindness.
Background
On September 10, 1974, CNIB Management — with the approval of
National Council (its policy-making body) — inaugurated the national
survey of the unmet needs of blind Canadians. CNIB was successful in
securing partial funding from the federal government Department of
Health and Welfare. An experienced social work researcher. Professor
Cyril Greenland, was engaged to design and direct the study. The
director's first objective was to reach the blind people across Canada.
A National Steering Committee, composed mainly of blind consumers
from different walks of life and representative of 10 provinces and the
Northwest Territories, was set up — 15 people in all. A CNIB staff
person was assigned to the Steering Committee in order to provide the
Director with statistical information and other resource material.
The Committee members assisted in a program to reach blind persons
in their home towns and to encourage them to speak up on the unmet
needs as each saw them.
The Director and the CNIB staff person then travelled from coast to
coast, holding weekend consultations with blind people. They heard
views of blind persons, of deaf-blind persons, and multi-handicapped
blind persons. Relatives and friends, CNIB volunteers and staff,
outside educators, rehabil'tation specialists, and government depart-
ments also took part in the consultations.
The study was not restricted to CNIB services. It was broad. It
included many disciplines. It examined such services and programs as
community responsibility, concessions, diagnostic services, education
and training, employment, mechanical and technical aids, pre-school
services, prevention of blindness, preservation and restoration of sight,
public education, recreation programs, research, social services, tran-
scription services, transportation, vocational rehabilitation.
The director and the steering committee also sought input from
special groups and associations, inviting briefs and representation from
The Canadian Council of the Blind (a nation-wide organization of the
blind), from parents of blind children, blind parents, the elderly blind
268
at home and in institutions, student and youth groups, the war-blinded,
educators, health and welfare agencies. Two thousand people, 80 per
cent blind persons, responded by phone, by letters, and by informal
briefs. Another 300 participated in the face-to-face consultations. The
research and collection of information occupied the complete year
of 1975.
The Report
Under the title "Vision Canada", the resulting report contains 10
chapters with more than 50 major recommendations. The recom-
mendations are directed to governments, to universities, other major
organizations, and to CNIB. The report calls for a public commitment
to assist visually impaired children. It states that many handicapped
children are being neglected. The report documents that, in an affluent
economy, the blind persons are economically disadvantaged. Adult
blind persons, even when they are able to work and are self-supporting,
are discriminated against in public places, housing and employment.
The designers of cities, transportation systems, and public buildings
have been quite oblivious to the presence and needs of handicapped
people, including the blind and visually impaired. The report exhorts
Canadian Press, the cooperative news-gathering agency, to provide a
weekly digest of news and public affairs on cassette available through
the mails or public libraries. It accuses the Canadian Broadcasting
Corporation of scarcely recognizing the existence of the blind and
recommends special programs on prime time on radio and on television.
The report urges specific legislation to protect the legal rights of dog
guide users. During the course of the survey many dog guide users
asserted that they had been refused admittance to transportation
systems, hotels and restaurants. The foregoing are samples of comments
and recommendations directed to the community and to governments.
The report is critical also of CNIB and states, "In endeavouring to
care for all the needs of blind people, CNIB tends to promise more
than it or any groups can deliver". It claims that this CNIB approach
is a disservice instead of a service, because it relieves the communities
of their obligations and removes their responsibilities for blind citizens.
To place the responsibilities where they belong, CNIB should extricate
itself from as many direct services as possible and train personnel in
government, education, and other outside organizations to provide
needed programs and services. Also, CNIB should become a major
resource in respect to blindness, for research, development and
training for all the helping professions; specifically for education,
social welfare, public health, medicine, science, and technology. A
major point referred to throughout the survey is the need to include
more blind consumers in the formation of services, since they no longer
wish to be recipients only.
Another Report
Following the publication of "Vision Canada" and in response to the
identified very particular needs of deaf-blind Canadians, an even more
specialized survey challenges our country to serve persons who are both
269
deaf and blind. I present here seven (7) of the twenty-eight (28) recom-
mendations set out in this study:
1. A centre for deaf-bhnd services should be estabhshed which
would be recognized as a source of information for all matters
pertaining to the unique disability created by the combination of
a visual and hearing loss.
2. Interpreters should be available for situations where that is the
main need — such as attendance at a class, medical or other
appointments and on-the-job training.
3. All specially adapted mechanical aids and appliances for deaf-
blind persons should be made available. Arrangements for
borrowing or buying these devices should be made on behalf of
chents.
4. Courses in language, communication, personal and social manage-
ment, independent living skills, pre-vocational and vocational
training, and recreation planning should be developed parti-
cularly for deaf-bhnd participants.
5. Living accommodation should be made available that allows
independence consistent with an individual's ability within a safe
structure, such as: efficiencies in an institutional residence, rooms
in private residences, or apartments in an apartment block.
6. Medical research should be encouraged to prevent this double
handicap from occurring, and research and testing to develop
special aids and devices for deaf-blind persons.
7. There should be government funding to allow for the coordinating
of present resources, the development of expertise, the purchase
of appropriate existing services, and the initiation of rehabilitation
and training programmes specifically designed for deaf-blind
citizens.
Implementation
To determine the CNIB response to "Vision Canada", National
Council set up an ad hoc committee, most of the members blind. For
six months this committee studied the report and made 14 decisive
recommendations to National Council. Because of the gigantic nature
of this project and the almost revolutionary issues involved, imple-
mentation of recommendations will be related to priority needs and
must be continuously monitored. To monitor and coordinate the
implementation, the ad hoc committee was replaced by a Service
Evaluation Committee. This eight-member committee — half of whom
were bhnd persons — was composed of members of National Council,
members of CNIB management and staff, and representatives from
The Canadian Council of the Blind. The committee recognized that
priority attention was already being given to strengthening the preven-
tion of blindness programs, the library and transcription services,
employment services, education and information services. The Service
Evaluation Committee has now been superseded by a National Client
Services and Professional Development Committee.
270
In conjunction with CNIB's eye service and prevention of blindness
staff, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and members of other
medical and paramedical professional associations are now providing
education through seminars, professional journals, and the media on
the many facets of blindness prevention.
Libraries across the country are now placing on their shelves large
print and talking books, many of the latter produced at CNIB.
The Canadian government is working with CNIB to open its employ-
ment services to blind job seekers, and CNIB is providing training to
government personnel in order to teach them how to work with blind
people. In 1978, CNIB's employment department, with funding from
the federal government Department of the Secretary of State, com-
pleted an inventory of occupations in which blind persons were
currently employed.
This catalogue was made available to our own CNIB employment
counsellors and government employment agencies, high school guidance
personnel, university and college counselling services, and vocational
rehabilitation services for their use with blind and seriously visually
impaired students and clients.
CNIB is currently conducting a survey on the number of blind
persons in the employable age group 16-64 years in Canada — the
number of employable unemployed in this group and the number of
unemployable persons with reasons for unemployability.
Responding to the omnipresent cry for more and more instant com-
munication and information, and for equality of rights, CNIB —
through its Public Relations and Information Services, and with
financial assistance from the Department of the Secretary of State —
investigated several areas of Canadian laws as they affected the lives of
blind persons. The project carried out by law students under the
direction of a blind law student focused upon such matters as taxation,
dog guide users rights, education rights, housing rights, building
standards, and other concerns. At that time, the law students recog-
nized that only three provinces in their Human Rights Legislation had
enacted right of access to public places for dog guide users. Today,
there are six.
In the area of recreation, CNIB has joined with three other national
organizations in promoting integration of handicapped citizens into
community programs.
Also, other bodies in other ways are responding to the report and to
CNIB's advocacy efforts.
Analysis and Summary
No matter how diverse were the target groups of these reports, the
recommendations always had the same objective — the blind person's
right to human dignity, to maximum independence, to social acceptance.
The studies are important for three major reasons: primarily, they
analyse the status of blind and deaf-blind persons today and provide
an assessment of prevention of blindness in Canada. They reproach the
private sector and governments at all levels for the relative neglect of
271
visually handicapped Canadians in our society. The greatest signi-
ficance of these reports, however, is their value for present and future
development. They provide a blueprint for the building of new pro-
gramming towards the integration of blind persons into the community
and the removal of the poorest of them from the poverty level.
In my opinion, "Vision Canada" was a turning point in the history of
CNIB. In its first 60 years, CNIB of necessity served as custodian,
parent-provider, father-confessor, teacher, employer. The paternalistic
role is no longer acceptable. Blind people today demand access with
dignity to all public programs. Apart from responsibility for adjustment
to blindness training, CNIB must serve as a catalyst rather than the
provider of services, making programs in the community accessible to
blind citizens.
The goal is essential services, needed training, greatly expanded
social, medical, and technological research which will ensure to blind
and deaf-blind persons the opportunity for fulfilled living.
272
SPECIAL NEEDS OF BLIND WOMEN
by Mrs. Doris M. Anin, Director
Ghana Society for the Bhnd
Belgrade Conference
Following the declaration of 1975 as the International Women's
Year by the United Nations General Assembly, WCWB and IFB
initiated the organization of the first International Conference on the
Situation of Bhnd Women from November 18-20, 1975, in Belgrade,
Yugoslavia, as part of the activities marking the Year.
The Union of the Blind of Yugoslavia, in cooperation with the
Government of that Country, generously hosted the conference. A
thirty-three member local committee led by a most charming lady, Mrs.
Nada Zaric, made excellent arrangements for a wonderful hospitality
for all the participants. There were 160 delegates from thirty countries,
as well as a large number of associates and friends of the blind from all
over the world.
The Programme Committee, drawn from WCWB and IFB, planned
a most interesting and comprehensive programme which aroused very
lively and frank disucssions during the working sessions. There were
five main working sessions devoted to :
(i) The Status of Blind Women ;
(ii) The Blind Woman, her family and participation in the com-
munity ;
(iii) Access to education ;
(iv) Access to rehabilitation; and
(v) Access to training and employment.
Papers presented on the status of blind women pointed out that due
to lack of statistical information, it was not easy to assess the political,
social, educational and economic situation of blind women. However,
there were many blind women who occupy important positions in
their communities in the fields of education, rehabilitation and welfare
of the blind.
Attention was drawn to the differences in the situation of blind
women in the industrialized countries, where opportunities exist for
higher education, and where blind women were especially concerned
about how to reach higher levels in their profession; and to the situation
of blind women in developing countries, where due to prejudices,
customs and ignorance, the blind woman is relegated to the position of
an inferior being and an object of false pity and charity. The blind
woman in such a setting is gradually brain- washed into accepting
herself as a person with no rights or privileges to claim. She is therefore
273
concerned only with fighting for survival, and often has to do without
the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter.
On participation in family and community life, there was enough
evidence that great strides had been made by some blind women ; as for
example, the life of Mrs. Alma Murphey of St. Louis, USA — a totally
blind woman married to a totally deaf and blind man, who had raised
six children and is actively involved in community life.
Several papers were presented to show that there is reasonable access
to education, rehabilitation, training and employment for blind women
in the developed countries; though not much was said about the
developing countries on these topics. However, there was still much
room for improvement even in the developed countries; and at the
closing session of the conference the following resolution was adopted :
''Recognizing that there are more than 16 million totally blind
people in the world, that an even larger number are visually handi-
capped and that at least half of them are women and girls ;
Noting with concern that more than 70 per cent of the world's
bhndness is preventable;
Aware that despite the rapid advances made recently in the
education, rehabilitation and employment of the blind, provision
for blind women in most countries is non-existent;
Noting with emphatic approval the resolutions on the status of
women made at the UN World Conference of International
Women's Year, Mexico June 1975;
Affirming that no statement of women's rights can be compre-
hensive which does not take into account the special needs of
separate groups including the blind and visually handicapped;
Appreciating the fact that blind women cannot exercise their
rights as human beings without adequate provision for education,
rehabilitation, employment and action to remove obstacles to their
integration with Society;
TfflS CONFERENCE
1. Requests all appropriate Specialized Agencies of the UN in
considering and implementing programmes for the advance-
ment of women, to make adequate provision for the particular
needs of the blind and visually handicapped.
2. Encourages the International Research and Training Institute
for the Promotion of Women, created by the UN World
Conference of International Women's Year, to include in its
programme of study the situation of blind and visually handi-
capped women.
3. Urges all governments in programmes and plans for education,
health, social security and family welfare to take special account
of the needs of blind and visually handicapped women, to
develop such plans with the expert help of the organizations of
and for the blind and to implement them by the use of profes-
sionally trained personnel.
274
4. Recommends international and national blind welfare organiza-
tions to review the adequacy of their provision for blind and
visually handicapped women and to ensure that a fair pro-
portion of the resources available should be channelled into
practical programmes designed to improve the education,
rehabilitation, including the establishment of centres where
they do not exist, employment, according to individual need,
and the social status of women.
5. Draws the attention of governments and blind welfare organiza-
tions to the special needs of blind women who have additional
handicaps.
6. Encourages national blind welfare organizations to take the
initiative in the formation of national multi-disciplinary com-
mittees for the prevention of blindness.
7. Invites the appropriate Specialized Agencies of the UN and
governmems to undertake public information programmes by
means of all mass communication media regarding the capacities
of handicapped persons in terms compatible with human
dignity.
8. Exhorts blind and visually handicapped women to participate
actively in the attainment of these objectives through their
organizations of and for the blind."
One thing stood out clearly throughout the conference: that the
blind woman is not participating fully in the life of the community,
especially in the developing countries where prejudices, customs and
ignorance are great impediments to the blind woman's access to
rehabilitation, training, employment and education. It was also clear
that the simple human needs of food, clothing and shelter — often taken
for granted by those in developed countries — are not available to many
of the blind women in rural areas of the developing countries. There
should, therefore, be greater cooperation among these countries,
especially those in the same sub-region, in sharing experiences, working
out plans, and initiating joint programmes which will provide at least
these basic needs for the blind women in the rural and urban areas.
It is for these reasons that the Ghana Society for the Blind, once
again, would like to recommend its Home Training Project for Blind
Women (White Bonnet Scheme) to governments and sister organiza-
tions in the Third World. Our project, started in 1964, has proved
quite successful, and has enabled thousands of blind women in rural
and urban areas to participate in both family and community life.
The Welfare Assistant for the Blind and her Work
With financial and technical assistance from the Royal Common-
wealth Society for the Blind, sighted Ghanaian women are trained as
itinerant Welfare Assistants for the Blind (WABs) and sent to the
villages and towns to locate blind women and given them instruction
in housewifery, childcare, cookery, personal hygiene and handicrafts.
275
upon first arrival in a village, the WAB approaches the Chief and
tells him the nature of her work. Almost invariably the Chief asks a
villager to take the WAB round to show her the homes of the blind
people in the village. Sometimes he calls a meeting of all the villagers
and the WAB explains her work to them and asks them for the names
of the blind people in the village. School children have been found to
be very good in helping the WABs to locate blind people, therefore
some WABs approach the head teacher of the local school when they
first arrive in a village.
The WAB is not always welcomed by the blind and their relatives,
but with tact and perseverance she wins the confidence of both. She
then registers the blind woman, taking down as much information as is
possible on a registration card which is forwarded to the headquarters
for our records. In most cases the WAB re-teaches the blind women to
do the things which they were doing before they became blind, such as
sweeping, washing and cooking. After that, she teaches any of the
crafts which are popular v/ith our blind women, such as raffia lamp
shades, stool seating with local ropes, rugs made with cuttings collected
from gannent factories and dress makers, and door mats. In addition
to these, the blind women in the North and Upper Regions of Ghana
do spinning, make ropes from fibre, and local earthenware pots.
Several blind women help on farms and others shell groundnuts or
palm kernels on contract.
When a blind woman becomes proficient in a particular craft, our
Society supplies her with materials for work and the finished work is
collected by the WAB for sale in our craft shop. Sometimes the WABs
are able to sell the finished work locally. The blind woman is paid for
work done as soon as it is collected from her. Many of our blind
women are supplementing their family income in this way, and several
others depend solely on this income for their living.
The WAB pays daily visits to the blind women on her register,
making sure that each is visited at least once a month. Sometimes this
is not possible since some WABs have as many as 98 blind women on
their registers; but they all try their best to see each blind woman on
their list at least once in two months.
The WAB keeps a daily account of her visits and activities, and during
the last two working days of each month she reports to the local office
of the Department of Social Welfare where she writes a detailed report
of her activities for the month and her itinerary for the coming month.
She sends the originals of these to the head office of the Society, and
copies to her supervisor. At head office the Director studies these
reports together with the reports of the two supervisors who go round
to see that the WABs are doing their work properly. Comments on the
work of the WABs are sent back to them, or the supervisors are asked
to draw WAB's attention to particular points on their rounds.
Finance: Each WAB is given imprest each month, from which she
pays for her travelling expenses while on duty, cost of materials for the
blind women to work with, and sundries such as food, soap, etc. An
276
expense account showing expenditure for the month is sent to head
office with the monthly report.
Assistance from outside agencies: The Royal Commonwealth Society
for the Blind has supported this project since it was started. Apart from
training the first batch of WABs, it gives an annual subvention towards
the travelling expenses and subsidizes the salaries of the WABs.
OXFAM provided, during the early days of the project, 12 bicycles for
the WABs in Northern Ghana, a VW bus, and later a Landrover to
replace it in 1973, for transporting materials to the blind and also to
take the supervisor round to see that the WABs are doing their work
properly.
Christoffel Blindenmission very kindly donated a VW bus to replace
the Landrover in 1978; and has also made available DM 15,500 for the
training of ten new WABs this year, to fill vacancies and to open three
new stations.
All our Northern and Upper Region workers have received new
bicycles to replace the very old ones from OXFAM. We received these
bicycles from RCSB under the SHE Fund. We take this opportunity,
once again, to express our sincere appreciation and thanks to all these
agencies for their help and support.
Kiosk Project
Following the success of our Home Training Scheme, and because of
our Society's desire to make more blind women really indepenent, we
launched a new settlement project which was intended for both women
and men. Unfortunately we have not been able to interest any blind
man in this project.
Under this pioject, the Society builds a kiosk usually in front of the
bhnd person's house, so that she can call for help from relatives should
it be necessary. The kiosk is then stocked with goods such as matches,
candles, soap, salt, cigarettes, local cereals, groundnuts, ginger, pepper,
etc. The selected person is presented with the kiosk and the goods and is
expected to sell the goods, use the profits for her upkeep, and replenish
the stocks with the capital. Our WABs assist the blind women to get
fresh stocks, but in most cases members of the family help; with the
WABs looking in from time to time too see that the kiosks are being
operated smoothly.
The kiosks remain the property of our Society so that they can be
transferred from one blind person to another. They are designed in a
way to ward off thieves, and the blind person usually locks herself in.
At the end of the day, stocks are removed for safe keeping in the house.
Twelve blind women have been successfully settled in this project.
However, due to high cost of materials, the Society has not built any
kiosks during the past two years; but has set up thirty more blind
women in petty trading. The Society has bought for them items such as
palm oil, charcoal, kerosene, maize, salt, etc. which they sell in their
homes. Once it is known in the vicinity that a particular item is being
sold at home by the blind woman, people in the neighbourhood prefer
to buy from her rather than make the longer journey to the market.
277
Conclusion
There were moves soon after the Belgrade conference to get the
Ghana Society for the Bhnd to organize a course for Trainer/Super-
visors from other countries who will go back to their own countries to
start the Home Training Project. However, contacts made by RCSB to
get participants for the course did not yield results.
The Ghana delegation wishes to reiterate that our Society will be
wiUing to organize this course any time it is called upon to do so.
We also take this opportunity to invite Governments and sister
organizations in the Third World to send people engaged in welfare
work for the blind to Ghana to observe at first hand, how this project
works in practice. It is our firm belief that it is only through cooperation
and shared experiences that we can fulfil the unmet meeds of the blind
women in the Developing World !
Thank you.
278
MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF MULTIPLE HANDICAP
by Dr. Franz Sonntag, Federal Republic of Germany
It is purely rhetorical to ask ourselves whether multiple handicapped
bhnd persons can successfully cope with occupational employment, for
who among us does not know of at least one blind person with addi-
tional multiple handicaps successfully meeting the demands placed
upon him or her by a job or profession. Merely knowing about one or
two individual cases, however, is not sufficient; on the contrary, it is
vitally necessary to analyse the question carefully and systematically,
for it is only in this way that we can finally arrive at some convincing
answers. Without going into too much detail I would hke to analyse
the question with the aim of finding out just how multiple handicapped
blind persons can be employed, what kind of jobs these are, and what
aids and services are necessary. The 10th professional session shows us
the necessity of close cooperation if we are to promote the vocational
rehabilitation of multiple handicapped blind persons.
I Terminology
I would like to begin by defining "multiple handicap". If we start
with the premise that blindness is the basic affection, then multiple
handicap must mean that a further handicap is present which in itself
would mean at least a 50 per cent disablement. When talking about
"occupational rehabilitation" I mean every kind of work relief, no
matter whether a person blinded later in life is to be retrained or whether
a person who is blind from birth is to be trained for a job for the first
time.
Later examples refer to cases known in the Federal Republic of
Germany.
II Groups of multiple handicapped blind persons
The systematic approach to this problem requires the definition of
typical groups of multiple handicapped blind persons. Such a definition
confine* itself to those groups of bhnd people stricken by a particularly
serious additional handicap; additional, that is, to blindness itself.
This analysis gives us the following six groups :
(1) Blind persons who are also deaf (blind-deaf).
(2) Blind persons with impaired hearing or who are almost completely
deaf.
(3) Blind persons without hands or arms.
(4) Blind persons without a hand or an arm.
(5) Blind persons with additional severe impairments to health
(heart diseases, metabolic diseases, paralysis, etc.).
(6) Blind persons with severe mental disturbances.
279
ni Possibilities of occupational retiabilitation for multiple handicapped
blind persons
The following is intended to show the possibilities offered by the
occupational rehabilitation of the multiple handicapped blind. This
presentation will refer to examples and necessary aids and services
whenever they are needed. The occupational possibilities for handi-
capped groups as under II are limited to the following characteristic
features :
(1) Deaf-blind persons are able to complete a university or technical
college course of study and subsequently enter a profession, e.g.,
become a lawyer, justiciary or civil servant. A remarkable case in point
is that of a deaf-blind man who studied jurisprudence with the aid of
his wife. Today he is a scientific adviser in the higher publx service of
one of our cities. This deaf-blind person requires the aid of a permanent
assistant who communicates the contents of dossiers, legislation and
ordinances to him by means of dactylogy (Niessen system). He dictates
all reports, opinions and decisions himself. He does this by reading the
statute books in Braille and using a Braille typewriter.
Deaf-blind people are often successful physiotherapists. There are
even cases of deaf-blind persons having their own private practice or
being employed in a hospital. In each of these cases he must be aided
by an assistant or a colleague who must establish the necessary contact
with the patients.
Some deaf-blind persons have made a commercial success in wood-
working following attendance at several rehabilitation courses. Their
workshops are fitted out according to their individual requirements.
Among the products they make are wooden bowls, candlesticks,
wooden boxes, etc. These are sold to private persons or organizations.
Until quite recently deaf-blind persons were also employed as typists.
They typed standard letters inserting address, details and facts. These
particular features had to be initially noted by the deaf-blind person in
Braille. But with the introduction of type-controlled typing machines
this type of job went out of existence.
It should also be possible to employ deaf-blind persons as industrial
workers or homeworkers. In such cases a contact person is necessary
to supervise the working process itself and accept orders.
(2) Blind persons with impaired hearing or who are almost completely
deaf can, of course, carry out all the occupational activities mentioned
in (1). An impressive example of occupational intelligence is the case
of an almost completely deaf-blind person who works in his own office
as an annuity councillor. He is the intellectual head of his office knowing
as he does all the relevant legislation and legal judgements, also
appearing before the social courts. He employs several office staff
members who deal with the necessary preliminary work. The essential
decisions, however, are made by the almost completely deaf-blind man
himself. His most important aids are the telephone amplifier and a
wireless transmitter-receiver apparatus (Sennheiser Mikroport) intended
to facilitate communication in a room or shall over any required
distance.
280
(3) Blind persons without hands or arms are active in higher public
service or as experts employed by public authorities. Their professional
accomplishments in these capacities are convincing. In many cases,
blind persons belonging to this group are employed as inquiry clerks or
janitors by the public authorities. One of them is employed by the
Federal State Railways to announce the arrival and departure of trains
over the station loudspeaker system. Important aids for this group of
multiple-handicapped blind persons are electronic dictating machines
and cassette recorders.
One blind person without hands is employed on the switchboard of a
sanatorium. He operates the complete telephone system with its five
direct exchange lines and 200 substations, as well as a calling system for
the entire sanatorium without help. To employ him as switchboard
operator the main department of welfare had to install a special
switchboard table. All incoming calls are put through to the substations
by means of 17 keys of varying heights. Outgoing calls are made in the
same way. The system is controlled by a small computer which also
registers the telephone charges. The installation of this switchboard
cost DM 220,000.
Earlier, blind persons without hands or arms were employed to plait
mats or to make clothes-pegs. Today, these occupations are no longer
required.
(4) Blind persons without a hand or an arm can, of course, carry out
all kinds of occupations mainly requiring brainwork. The only problems
being their employment in the industrial sector or the pursuit of handi-
craft activities. Experience shows us that blind persons lacking a hand
or an arm can indeed be employed in industrial and handicraft jobs
providing they are not too complicated and that their workplaces have
been properly equipped. The proper equipping of a workplace should
ideally be carried out together with industrial engineers and factory
inspection engineers.
(5) Blind persons with additional severe impairments to health {heart
diseases, metabolic diseases, paralysis, etc.) can be employed in most
occupations requiring brainwork as well as in industry, commerce and
crafts after taking their individual situation into account. Their states
of health should be taken into consideration, as well as working hours,
work load and difficulties involved in the job they have to perform.
Industrial engineers and works doctors or consultants advising the
works administration should cooperate.
(6) Blind persons with severe mental disturbances can only be em-
ployed to a limited degree. They cannot be considered for incorporation
into the general working process. There are, however, possibilities of
occupying them in therapeutic workshops. Their achievements should
not be compared to normal working standards. The therapeutic work-
shops must guarantee medical, remedial gymnastic and usually neuro-
logical care. It must be realized that blind children with mental dis-
turbances often suffer from seizures. Experience gathered in the Federal
Republic points to blind persons with severe mental disturbances being
281
able to achieve a mere 10 to 20 per cent of the normal work standard
of a healthy worker. Attempts to employ such blind persons to carry
out simple repetitive jobs on the assembly line offer some hope of
success.
IV Summary
The rehabilitation of multiple handicapped blind persons is difficult
demanding as it does speciahzed knowledge in the fields of blind
psychology, technology, work organization and occupational medicine.
In more problematical cases speciahst teachers, engineers and doctors
must work together. Special attention should be paid to the workplace
itself. All work processes must be completely comprehensible and
logical, and thought through to the smallest detail. Each workplace
must be fitted out with suitable appliances for the blind. The problem
of protection against accidents is of great importance. For blind persons
with extremely severe additional impairments preventing controlled
work, an occupation has to be found that has at least a limited economic
result in addition to the occupational therapy itself. Industrial nations
must begin paying more attention to the problem of the occupational
rehabilitation of the multiple handicapped blind. Developing countries
should also show an interest in these problems so that they can avoid
mistakes from the very onset.
Reasonable results can only be achieved by cooperation between all
the institutions and organizations involved in the problem in any way
at all. Finally, it should be mentioned that the ERC of the WCWB is
holding a special congress in the Federal Republic of Germany in 1981
on the occupational and social rehabilitation of multiple handicapped
blind persons.
282
PROFESSIONAL SESSION 11
COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP
Wednesday afternoon, August 8, 1979
Chairman: Dr. Robert Winn, USA
THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEADERSHIP IN THE FIELD OF
WORK FOR THE BLIND IN THE 80's
by Robert J. Winn, Jr., Ph.D.
Diiector, Bureau for Blind and Visually Handicapped, Rehabihtation
Services Administration, Dhew, Washington, DC
Leadership is probably one of the most important ingredients in the
development of any major system in our modern day society. In fact,
leadership itself has brought about all of t he benefits accruing to our
modern day society and also its potential destructiveness. Ancient
societies have risen and fallen on the basis of the type of leadership
provided. There are obviously many political scientists today that feel
our present society will continue at its developmental rate or without
proper leadership be destroyed.
The objective of this paper is not to deal with leadership as it shapes
our total society, but the scope of this paper is to deal with leadership
as it affects a subsystem within our present day world society. This
paper will deal specifically with the development of leadership in the
field of services for blind individuals. The strategies presented here will
be highly significant if we are to make continued prog, ess in the decade
of the 80's.
The strategies which I am proposing will not just deal with the
development of leadership in the United States, the leadership in
France, or the leadership in Nigeria. It will deal with basic principles
that are important for whenever leadership must be developed through-
out the world. The manner or specific way in which these strategies are
applied will differ somewhat from country to country. However, the
basic principles of these strategies will hold true irrespective of the
culture. Hopefully, these strategies will assist those countries which
have a more highly developed service delivery system for blind persons.
On the other hand, these principles should also assist those countries
that are struggling with the initial evolution of services for bhnd in-
dividuals. Finally, the principles which are delineated in this paper
allow those countries who are in the early process of evolving services
283
to develop such services in relationship to their religious and social
beliefs. Mere superimposing of Western technology and specific
methodology and evolving countries is not the aim of this paper. It is,
however, the purpose of this writer to lay out strategies to assist leaders
in each country to develop their own pattern of services relative to the
needs of their population.
In order for there to be leadership, obviously there must be a leader.
This paper is not so ambitious as to take on the task of developing a
leader. For if we are to develop a leader, we must start at conception
and follow the child throughout its early developmental stages. There
are many personality traits that a leader must possess. Many of these
personality characteristics evolve at a very young age.
In order to be a leader one must have charisma, one must have the
ability to mesmerize others, one must have the ability to lead others as
a magnet draws iron fihngs to its surface. The leader must have credibi-
lity. Sometimes we refer to this as a face validity. They must also possess
the personality trait of tenacity. A leader must never be willing to give
up for he or she realizes that the differences between winners and losers
are those who fight the battle until it is won. They must have true
dedication to causes, dedication which will inspire others. Personality
characteristics are only the beginning of a list that one could derive.
Needless to say, throughout the world in each of our respective countries,
there are persons who possess certain of these characteristics and thus
having a potential of being true leaders in a classical sense.
In addition to those personality characteristics that are heavily
related to one's environment and interaction with one's environment,
there are also bio-physical genetic inherited characteristics. Leaders are
usually more intelligent. The type of inteUigence is broad in scope. A
leader is a divergent thinker, a conceptualizer, a problem solver.
Another important physiological characteristic is what we refer to in
our modern physiology as a possessor of high energy level. Let it be
noted that many of the great leaders of our world are persons who have
almost boundless energy, persons who can work long hours at a high
output of creativity. It is not the ambition of this paper to involve itself
in genetic engineering in order to develop leaders. It is needless to say
that throughout the world in each of our various countries, there are
persons who possess these basic genetic characteristics.
Although there may be persons in your country and my country who
possess the precise personality traits and genetic characteristics to
enable them to be potential leaders, they may never reach their potential.
In order to assist those persons in the world who are potential leaders
in realizing their potentiality, the writer would pose that we should
carefully examine four ''mportant strategies which will assist those
persons in reaching their potential as leaders in improving services for
blind persons throughout the world.
The first strategy is to assist potential leaders in developing their
marketing skills. Technically, highly evolved countries use attitudinal
studies, mass media, etc. to accomplish this. Even in countries with less
technology, one would say that a shopkeeper bartering a local farmer
at the market employs marketing skills relative to his cultural environ-
284
merit. Why are marketing skills so essential ? The leader must be able
to sell his concepts to those important persons in his or her society — a
concept that blind people are capable productive individuals who have
the competencies and abilities to contribute to their society, not to live
upon it.
Whether or not the leader is blind or sighted, they must basically
believe in blind persons. They must believe that blind persons have the
ability to succeed in their society. This is a straightforward simplistic
concept, however, it is a most difficult concept to develop. As an
example, those highly skilled marketing experts in the higher techno-
logically developed countries have attacked the marketing of handi-
capped persons in a most scientific manner. A manner which is basically
contrary to the principle of a belief in the competencies of blind persons.
One of the most prolifically used advertisements for hiring people in the
United States is "Hire the handicapped, they'll never miss a day's work
and after you train them, you will never have to train them again and
they will also be loyal to you." This kind of advertisement in marketing
the skills of handicapped people is atrocious. It essentially says that
handicapped, blind, deaf, cerebral palsied, etc. needs employability so
pathetically bad that they're almost willing to take any job and
secondly, after they are employed, you don't have to worry because
they will be so grateful they will not attempt to move up in the system
or either they do not have the ability to move up in the system and,
therefore, you wil' not have to retrain them. This exemplifies a marketing
technique used in a highly evolved country like the United States of
America which is obviously misselling the capabihty of blind persons.
The writer will not attempt in detail to delineate the complete
technology of marketing skills but would point out one basic principle
and that is that there aie two basic dimensions for selling the society in
which you or I live that blind people are capable and productive
individuals. The first dimension is that of basic attitudinal dimension of
for or against or positive or negative. There has been much research in
American journals relative to attitudinal studies towards handicapped
persons and particularly blind persons. We find that, for example,
where school children have never been in class with or played with
blind children, they tend to highly underestimate what blind children
can do. On the other hand, those normal children that have attended
class with blind children tend to be more realistic and positive about
what blind children can and cannot do. Thus, educating the public is
an important issue but the writer must point out that merely talking
about blind persons and their attributes is not as potent as the actual
positive interaction between blind persons and normal persons in the
society. The leader in the field of the blind feels that a positive inter-
gration of blind persons in the society who are successful will change
attitudes of the normal. Even in India where a blind person may be
given a herd of water buffalo has a rehabilitation me^odology. The
family and friends of this person will look up to this person as being
successful in their society.
The second dimension goes beyond merely being for or against,
positive or negative towards an idea or towards persons. This has to do
285
with what is known as potency. I may feel very strongly for a certain
candidate in election, but if I do not vote for that individual, the
attitude which I maintain has no potency. Looking at shaping the
attitudes of society, we must not only look at just educating society,
but we must look at those basic strategies to get society to take action to
buy blind persons as successful individuals. We must enroll those
normal people into the fight and cause for improving services for blind
individuals.
The writer would impose that it is crucially important to delineate the
marketing strategies in each country of the world which are crucial and
important to the society or environment. We must cooperatively share
our observations and our marketing technology with one another.
Certain principles can be shared across societies and certain principles
may be quite unique for a specific society.
The second strategy that we must employ is that of assisting potential
leaders in the field of blind persons in knowing about services for blind
individuals throughout the world. We know a leader may have never
been a teacher for the blind, a rehabilitation counselor for the blind, a
rehabilitation teacher for the blind, a mobility instructor for the blind,
etc., he or she must have some basic understanding of such service
modalities. Particularly, the leader must have some concept of what is
or what is not quality services in the respective country involved. It is
far worse, I feel, in certain cases to develop poor inadequate low
quality services than it is to have no services. Once inadequate services
are developed, it is usually the contention of the political power base
or governmental power base that as services are rendered a commitment
to services for blind persons has been made. In many cases, it is very
difficult to change such services once they're established. Looking at a
quality control system, there must be an understanding relative to
standards in programs and secondly relative to standards for profes-
sionals serving in those programs. There are obviously a variety of
methodologies that can be employed to implement such standards.
A second important aspect in developing a basic information base
concerning programs for potential leaders for bhnd persons is that of
program utilization. To some of the readers of this paper who live in
countries who have less resources with less evolved services for blind
persons this will appear to be a puzzling statement. However, you can
profit from the mistakes of the low resource countries who have
developed a more highly evolved service for blind individuals. In the
United States, there is considerable evidence that there is a lack of
program utilization. In certain states, there may be two rehabilitation
centers both of which are not fully utilized. There may be states with
very little services who are adjacent to other states with rehabilitation
centers which are under utilized. There are cases of developing two or
more service systems to serve the same population, each system com-
peting with the others. The potential leader must have adequate
programmatic knowledge and concepts of programs to utilize all
services available for the rehabilitation of blind persons.
The third strategy is that of the development of management skills
for the potential leaders in the field of work for blind persons. There
286
are many management techniques which have been used to conduct
service programs. A few examples are: Program Planning Budget
System, better known as PPBS, Management By Objectives, better
known as MBO, etc. One should not get so involved in one management
system that aspects of other management systems would be lost.
Whatever the technique used, it should be the most efficient system for
utilizing existing services.
The most recent concept in the management of human services is that
of the systems approach. This transcends the specific management
technique. A systems approach is where all aspects of the service
delivery system are analysed as to proper linkages. A chain is no
stronger than its weakest link. As an example, in the United States
milHons of dollars have been spent on technology and its development.
In certain cases, nothing has been spent on training people to use this
technology nor has there been government subsidy to assist blind
people in purchasing such expensive technology. Truly, the chain is no
stronger than its weakest link. There is no wonder that much of our
advanced technology in the Western world has not been employed
relative to its potential.
Finally, no matter which management technique is used the concept
of goals setting and planning is paramount to any system of manage-
ment. It is crucial to know where one is going in the future and secondly,
how one is going to get there. Often, as one looks at the history of great
leaders in the field of the blind, one finds that leader may have had a
specific interest in one program aspect or the person may have been
interested in developing the teaching methodology or technology up to
a point but not all the way. The future leaders in the 80's must look at
what the goals are and what the systems approach should be in carrying
out and reaching those goals.
The final strategy which this paper wishes to address is that of
assisting future leaders in the field of work for blind persons to utilize
change agent technology. As indicated earlier, in marketing skills, it is
not merely enough to educate or to inform the key role for leaders of
the 80's to make change ''n the system. The system m-ght be the political
service delivery system, the governmental system, the business and
industrial system, etc. One of the first basic principles in change agent
theory is to know the system that one is dealing with. If one knows the
system, one can eventually predict what the system will do relative to a
given stimulus. If one is able to predict what is relative to a given
stimulus, one then is in a position to manipulate the system. The second
basic principle is that one must develop very carefully a blue print
exclusively designed to change the system. It is not merely goal-oriented
but is primarily strategy-oriented. What are the strategies ? In looking
at strategies, it is important to understand that to achieve any change
in a system, it takes a multiplicity of strategies.
Eight months ago I met with all of the State directors of the 50 states
in the United States, as well as other Federal districts. We began tram-
ing into what is known as strategic management. Strategic management
was derived from the military. It is highly change-oriented. More
importantly, it is survival-oriented. With world shortages of energy,
287
and high unemployment in many countries, we must look at the issue
of survival — survival of the services that we have developed already as
well as the need for future services in order for blind persons to survive
in a more highly developed technological society that is evolving in
most countries. A leader in services for blind persons in the 80's must
carry on the work of those capable competent leaders in the past. In
doing so, the leaders in the 80's must take an exceptional aggressive and
survival-oriented approach, a strategic management approach.
The purpose of this paper has been to attempt to deal with strategies
to improve potential leaders in the field of work for the blind persons
in the 80's. There has been an attempt to provide strategies that will
be useful to leaders in all countries. These strategies could not be laid
out in their total technological framework within the scope of this
paper, but should each be further delineated in an entire paper oriented
to each strategy. The four strategies have been developing marketing
skills, providing important program information, developing manage-
ment skills, and developing change agent skills. This paper has made
the assumption that within each country of the world, there are in-
dividuals who possess the precise personality and bio-chemical charac-
teristics necessary for potential leaders. On the other hand, this paper
has attempted to make clear that such potentiality will not be realized
in the next decade if we do not take a more sophisticated and compre-
hensive approach in training and developing leadership in the field of
work for blind persons which will assist more individuals in realizing
their potential as leaders in their respective countries. The writer
appreciates the opportunity of having shared these ideas with those
interested persons who serve in the field of work for bhnd persons.
288
"LEADERSHIP IN THE AREA OF THE BLIND"
by Monsur Ahmed Choudhur', Executive Officer
Bangladesh National Society for the Blind
Acknowledgement
I feel deeply honoured by the invitation of the Programme Com-
mittee of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind to present a
paper in the World Assembly on "Leadership in the area of the Blind".
I am grateful to the Programme Committee for giving me a chance to
speak in the world forum.
Due to shortage of time, it was not possible to collect more informa-
tion and make revisions. I admit there are shortcomings in my paper,
which, I believe, the participants will accept with their magnanimity,
and open discussion on the paper will remove all doubts from their
minds.
This afternoon I am going to discuss about a topic which is crucial,
debatable and most essential in all context of human society across the
globe from the dawn of civilization.
T trust the World Assembly will find some interest in my paper and
will consider the same favourably, and will agree with my recom-
mendations for implementation for the cause of the blind of the
developing countries.
Definition of Leadership
Leadership can be defined in more than one way. In the broadest
sense of the term, "Leadership refers to that process whereby an
individual directs, guides, influences or controls the thoughts, feelings,
aspirations and behaviour of other human beings", observes Dr.
Franklyn S. Haiman in his book "Group Leadership and Democratic
Action". Prof. Patrick M. WilHams in his book "Leadership and
Organization Development" of San Jose State College in the United
States defined Leadership as "inducing others to be what they might
otherwise not be". According to him, for Leadership to occur, we need
at least two people — an inducer (initiator) and one who is induced to
change (reactor). Here the initiator will plan, direct and guide and the
actions of the reactor shall bring in the desired change.
Mr. Irving Knickerbocker in his article "Leadership : A Conception
and some implications" published in The Study of Leadership has
described leadership as one which "emerges as a consequence of the
needs of a group of people and of the nature of the situation within
which that group is attempting to operate". To quote Field-Marshal
Montgomery on Leadership from his book The Path to Leadership, is
"The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common
purpose, and the character which will inspire confidence".
289
From the foregoing it is seen that Leadership has a wide-ranging
meaning. We may safely conclude that Leadership is a word which
implies truth, character, sincere effort, humane qualities and a capability
to read the minds of followers and act according to the wishes of the
majority to achieve the objectives of that particular group.
Styles of Leadership
There are basically four styles of leadership ; namely Authoritarian,
Strict Supervisory, Democratic or cooperative, and Non-directive. Let
me discuss them one by one :
(a) Authoritarian: This style makes the leader absolute in decision-
making. He seems to care little about his followers from whom he
derives his power. He decides what is right and what is wrong.
The authoritarian leader understands his role to be one of
domination, and his followers are expected to play the role of
subordinates. He refuses to share leadership with others. He will
always insist that his ideas are the best and always correct. By
doing so, the authoritarian leader, or autocrat, directs the be-
haviour of other fellow associates towards his predetermined
ends. Their methods are dubious although they may give the
appearance of democratic procedures. This style clearly implies
that the leader is regarded as superior to his followers. To quote
Machiavelli, "one ought to be both feared and loved" to be a
successful authoritarian leader; which means the leader has to
play the game of fear and love.
(b) Strict supervisory: This represents a milder form of autocracy.
This type of leader is more considerate and friendly to his
followers. Since he wishes to promote efficiency, the strict
supervisory leader depends wholly on giving orders, leaving
aside his associates from decision-making. Like an authoritarian
leader, he considers himself as more capable than the participants
of his group. He presupposes that the sharing of responsibility
with his associates is unnecessary and unwise. So we find that
initiative and interdependency in this form of leadership is
restricted within the leader. He will dominate to drive his point
home but will not allow his supporters to make suggestions
since he believes this is a sheer waste of time.
(c) Democratic or cooperative leadership: Democracy is a word
which means all things to all men. The democratic leader guides
and coordinates the group's decision-making process. He can be
termed a discussion leader or Chairman of debate whose main
purpose is to preserve and enhance democratic procedures. He
considers himself as one of his followers and shares the res-
ponsibility of decision-making along with all members of his
group. The democratic leader has an affirmative approach to
problems, and to participants in a discussion. The democratic
leader believes that intra-group communications are very im-
portant and all the members of the group should be given a fair
chance to speak, give their views on personal initiative, and thus
290
they can contribute to the well-being of the group as a whole.
The democratic or cooperative leadership gives equal oppor-
tunity to the members of the group,
(d) Non-directive leadership: This type of leader usually invites the
group members to suggest the phase of the problem to be
considered. In other words, he does not want to participate in
decision making. The non-directive leader can be called demo-
cratic but he is less likely to perform procedural duties for the
group. Though he can manage and accomplish the same ends as
democratic leaders, he does so in a more indirect manner. In
this form, the leader gets things done, the group acts and the
leader's procedural influence is held to the minimum. This is due
to the fact that the individual of the group has the required
capacity to understand his problem and to solve them.
Approach of Leadership
Approaches of leadership are multifarious in nature. Let me explain
some of the salient features :
(a) Intelligence: This quality is vital towards the attainment of
leadership. This is essential since one has to understand the
problem and study it, so that he can have a thorough grasp of
the situation and can give a correct solution for the same.
(b) Truth: It plays a vital role in the achievement of a leader. He
must have a frank mind and discuss the problems with his
followers with an open heart since they must believe in him.
(c) Character: The leader must possess an unblemished character
since this will create confidence in the mind of his followers.
Only character can inspire others to follow him.
(d) Strong determination : The leader shall essentially be of strong
determination, without which he cannot achieve the goal for
which his followers have given their confidence. The willpower
of the leader acts like a tonic for the whole group.
(e) Optimism: Successful leaders should have a greater amount of
optimism for the desired goal : coupled with a strong determina-
tion, they can achieve success against all the barriers.
(f) Judgement: He must have sound judgement, in which others
can have confidence, and a good knowledge of human nature.
His judgement should be based on the totality of his group.
(g) Choice: A leader must be a good judge of men, a good selector
of subordinates — because it is they who will preserve the philo-
sophy of the leader and shall carry the message of the leader.
Leadership in the Developed Countries
Leadership in the developed countries has made much headway.
This has been possible mainly due to two factors: their industrial
growth resulting in economic emancipation of the people, and secondly
the social status of an individual in those countries. The majority are
291
aware of their duties and responsibilities, and their rights and privileges.
A majority of the people have education. The people can think about
their future, and play a vital role in their social pattern of life in their
respective mations. Accordingly, they rally round the leader of their
own choice. They have freedom of speech and right of criticism. The
press highlights the views and goals of leaders and thereby helps to
mould public opinion. In the developed countries, the leaders have to
exert themselves with all their sincerity, initiative and human virtues to
win over the hearts of the majority.
Leadership in the Developing Countries
Leadership in the developing countries is a herculean task. The
general economic condition of the people is not satisfactory, and the
Governmental resources are also very limited. Since the bulk of the
population are deprived of education — they are not aware of their own
problems, and consequently they have to believe in the popularity and
charismatic quality of a leader. The inevitable result is that the leaders
often fail to make good their promises. Public opinion is also not very
effective, and hence the leaders can confuse their followers. Since the
democratic rights of the people are also very much restricted, or
practised on a much lesser scale, the leaders try to mislead the people
for their own selfish ends. Absence of democratic values in some of
these countries hinders the growth of able leadership. The conflict
between traditional leadership and the modern socio-political behaviour
of the majority is always there in the developing countries.
Leadership in the Area of the Blind
May I have the privilege to draw your attention to the subject of
leadership in the area of the blind in the light of the earlier deliberations.
(a) Leadership in the area of the blind in the developed countries
has met with success due to the reason that they could appreciate
the problems of the blind. These countries could provide
facilities for the education and employment of the blind. Such as,
there is no dearth of educational appliances, equipment and
resources for the betteiTnent of their future. But the condition in
the developing countries is reversed. This is due to the fact that
the resources of these countries are very limited and are not
readily available. The lack of these vital educational kits,
appliances and equipment, coupled with major financial prob-
lems, poses a stumbling block towards the attainment of an
education of the blind in the developing countries.
(b) The people of the developed countries have a tremendous
amount of social awareness ; public attitude towards the blind is
also very favourable. The people of the developed countries
have a certain sense of responsibihty towards the fellow blind
citizen of the country. They have a sense of respect for the
physically handicapped. Over and above, there is usually no
shortage of resources from the national treasury. But in the
292
developing countries, very few people recognize their duties and
responsibilities towards their fellow blind citizens — the great
majority of the population is not aware, and maintains an in-
different attitude towards them. Frankly speaking, the deve-
loping countries face an acute unemployment problem for the
sighted educated people; not to speak of employment oppor-
tunities for the blind. The state resources are also very much
limited.
(c) Besides, in the developed countries, the formation and develop-
ment of organizations, both for and of the blind, have contri-
buted much towards the growth of leadership in the area of the
blind. In those countries, there is ample scope for the educated
blind to be associated with any of the organizations, serve there,
and think about the needs and aspirations of the blind com-
munity of the world. On the contrary, such organizations are
relatively lesser in the developing countries, and the educated
blind is deprived of practising leadership, although there are few
exceptions. The emergence of developed organizations, both for
and of the blind, flourishing in the western world offer excellent
opportunity to the potential blind to practise leadership. Such
situations encourage blind leaders even to attain international
reputation, both for the work connected with bhnd and in his
individual profession.
(d) In the developing countries, the need for development of the blind
community has not yet received priority. In the national plans
and policies, the respective Governments of the developing
countries do not attach the required prior'ty for the systematic
growth and development of the blind community — their needs
and aspirations; like other sectors of the society. Whereas, in the
developed countries, the respective Governments give due con-
sideration in this regard keeping in line with the development of
other sectors in the society.
(e) Over-protection or under-protection of a blind person in his
family hinders the growth of self-confidence. In the developing
countries the blind child usually does not get the same treatment
and affection from his parents like his other sighted brothers and
sisters in the family. This attitude of the family causes a psycho-
logical set-back for the blind and hence his mental faculty cannot
grow, and he prefers to remain in seclusion, and considers
himself as a burden in the family. But in the developed countries,
a blind child is recognized as an equal member of the family and
the attention of the parents is also equal towards all the children,
including the blind one.
My Observations about Growth of Leadership of the Blind in Bangladesh
vis-a-vis my experience in Asia and Overseas
Bangladesh with a population of eighty million and having an area
of fifty-five thousand square miles, belongs to the developing world.
The country is besieged with the serious problem of blindness — both
293
preventive and curable and socio-economic rehabilitation of the blind.
The Rotary Club of Dacca established a school for the blind in 1957
in Dacca in the erstwhile East Pakistan, now Bangladesh. This step was
the land-mark for the well-being of the blind, which encouraged the
Government to include the programme for the education of the blind
in its second five-year plan and set up four more residential schools of
primary level during the years 1960-65. Since the independence of
Bangladesh in 1971, the Government attached much importance for
the education of the blind under the integrated programme and by 1973
expanded the facility to 47 schools throughout Bangladesh.
In 1964 an organization developed for the first time by a few blind
students along with sighted friends called East Pakistan Federation of
the Blind, now renamed as National Federation of the Blind. In-
cidentally I was associated with this organization. This endeavour
encouraged many members of the public to come forward and share
the work for the welfare of the blind in subsequent years.
In 1970, another organization called East Pakistan Society for the
Blind was established by some noted sighted social workers along with
the blind, which after the independence of Bangladesh, was renamed
and reorganized as the Bangladesh National Society for the Blind. This
organization received the due recognition of the Government and
affiliation to the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind in 1973.
During the past 15 years the creation and development of the
organizations, both of and for the blind in Bangladesh, offered an
opportunity to some of the blind to assume leadership and subsequently
efforts are being taken to develop us.
My participation in the World Convention of the Blind, South East
Asian Blind Leadership Seminar and International Symposium on
Problems of Sports for the Blind, in 1969 in Colombo, 1975 in Kuala
Lumpur and 1979 in Belgrade respectively, have enabled me to exchange
views and ideas on services for the blind. This has given me self-
confidence and familiarized me with the activities of the developed
world. Though I personally feel that the entire experience of success in
the western world cannot be transformed in the eastern society, still
there is ample opportunity to narrow down the gap by implementing
the programme in the developing world for the blind within their own
local socio-economic context.
Recommendations for Growth of Blind Leadership
(a) Ignorance of the majority about their responsibilities and duties
towards the blind must be removed. This can only be done
through public awareness, through television, radio and press,
as well as by films, of the activities of the blind.
(b) Educational equipment, kits and appliances for the education of
the bhnd must be made easily available in all the developing
countries. About 75 per cent of the total blind population of the
world lives in the developing countries, where the essential
equipment for their study is not ready at hand for them.
294
(c) There should be an improvement in the level of education of the
blind. Education of the bhnd up to the level of a school final
examination should be enforced strictly. Only meritorious and
potential blind leaders should be sponsored for higher education,
which will be meaningful for their future lives.
(d) The respective countries of the developing world should recog-
nize the blind and their problems. In the national policies, the
problems of the blind should be given priority.
(e) The blind in the developing countries have no security of life
(i.e. employment opportunity and facilities and training). The
avenues of employment are very scarce and the m.ajority of blind
manpower is going to waste since there are only a few training
institutes with limited capacity. It is a fact that a blind person
cannot work without any training. This has resulted in the
unemployment of a large number of blind people and, on the
other hand, a large portion of manpower is being wasted, which
affects the economy of the country. Hence, the sense of insecurity
and frustration in the minds of blind people have to be removed.
(f) Organizations, both of and for the blind, should be formed and
developed in all the countries of the developing world. All these
organizations should formulate projects for the welfare of the
bhnd, and work in close liaison with the respective Govern-
ments, so that efforts can be doubled by all concerned, and
leadership can grow in the area of the blind.
(g) Periodical national and regional seminars and conferences
should be held on blind leadership training, sponsored by the
organizations, both of and for the blind, of the participating
countries and Regional Committees keeping in line with the
blind leadership training seminars held in Kuala Lumpur and
Lusaka in 1975 and 1979 respectively. Participants of such
training seminars should be selected from such blind having the
potential qualities of a leader in the area of the blind.
(h) A Federation of Blind Graduates Alumni should be initiated, in
order that the problems of the educated blind and their future
can be discussed under the aegis of the said Federation, and the
outcome of such discussions be given to those who are involved
in the rehabilitation of the blind. This recommendation was,
however, made by Mr. Ron Chandran Dudley, in the fourth
Asian Conference on Work for the Blind at Bombay, India in
1973 in his article "The Educated Blind in Asia — Their Problems,
Needs and Employment Prospects".
(i) WCWB should take the initiative and necessary steps towards
inclusion in the charter of 80's to be adopted by Rehabilitation
International in Winnipeg, Canada, in the next year to draw the
attention of the international community, Government and non-
Governmental organizations of the respective countries for
growth of leadership of the blind, with priority, in the coming
decade.
295
Conclusion
My attempt in this paper was to put forward the hard facts which
are standing in the way of the growth of potential leaders in the area
of the blind in the developing countries. The achievements in this regard
in the western world are simply tremendous, but have had less influence
in the developing countries. One must admit that only the blind can
give effective leadership in the community of the blind, and the vast
multitude of the blind of the developing countries are suffering from
this acute problem. We should not think that the fortune and pros-
perity of the blind of the world should be judged from two angles,
from two opposite directions ; rather, development of one community
should reflect equally on the development of the other community.
Since the World cannot exist without the Solar System, the Moon
cannot shine without the Sun, Hamlet cannot be staged without the
Prince of Denmark, Democracy cannot flourish without an Electorate,
similarly an organization cannot achieve its goal with only its followers,
i.e. without able leaders. Leaders are never born, they are trained and
groomed with a view to lead the population to the cherished goal.
It should be the sincere effort of all concerned (i.e. all individuals
both blind and sighted, particularly in the developing countries, all
national organizations, both of and for the blind, respective national
Governments and World Bodies, including their Regional Committees)
to ponder over this problem of the growth of leadership in the area of
the blind and adopt effective measures in this World Assembly, and
implement those recommendations without any loss of time. Periodic
exchange of ideas in this field, between the developed and the developing
countries, can only produce the result to which all of us are looking
forward. The world yesterday met with problems; we are planning
today, and tomorrow we shall act upon.
296
COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP
by Mr. Kevin Carey
Caribbean Council for the Blind
Laying aside, for the purposes of this presentation, that most of us
are selfish in our personal, communal and national lives; even laying
aside the less dire assumption that we are generous either when we can
afford to be or when we are so poor it does not matter, and assuming
that the world community is sensitive to urgent needs though incapable
of coping (and I think this is a generous assumption), then if hundreds
of millions of people on the verge of starvation cannot move the world
community to act (rather than resorting to mere platitudes), the
estimated forty million blind persons in the world stand little chance
of an improvement in their lot.
When I first went to university in England in the early 1970s my
generation was so well off it could aff'ord to be radical and even generous.
By the time I left university in the United States in 1974 the inevitable
economic downturn resulting from the intrinsic weaknesses in the
economic strategy of the developed world had already begun, precipi-
tated by the oil price rises of late 1973 and early 1974. The paradox of
the current position in relation to that of the early 70s is that it is not
an act of kindness to support developing countries but a growth of
wisdom. Developed countries cannot sell their goods if developing
countries cannot afford to buy them. If the world changed slowly some
new order might be manageable if not acceptable, but the transfer of
information is more speedily achieved than the transfer of wealth, and
rising (and not unreasonable) expectations have brought their own
problems.
We in the area of work for the blind have a professional obligation
to be informed of our subject but the obsession of some of us with it,
though understandable, is unreasonable and may well distort our
judgment. Nobody in public life with a sense of their own social
sophistication would openly attack the notion that needlessly blind
persons should be provided with the medical care which would restore
their sight, just as such people would accept the assumption that
education and social services are beneficial, but a person in public life
has to enjoy phenomenal luck to go through a year without having to
choose between the better of two evils.
It is often difficult enough to heighten social consciousness when it
comes to the treatment of blind people but, great though this problem
is, to overcome it is to gain victory in a skirmish. The war is still to be
fought.
To become involved in this war heroism is not enough. As in present
military affairs, a knowledge of weapons and how to use them is vital.
In my experience the heroism or, if you like, the commitment, has come
297
mainly from blind people themselves but they are vulnerable to self-
delusion, and agencies for the blind, under consumer pressure, are
vulnerable to a guilt-complex which often leads them to believe that
they are being patronising to their clients when they may not be — many
a fine theatre critic has been a failure as a playwright, and even most of
the most discerning beer drinkers are not brewers. There is a need to
establish what blind people want but this is a totally different thing
from swallowing the assumption that blind people are the best at
providing it.
There will be critics who can write plays and drinkers who brew, and
perhaps these are the most valuable people in the process of change,
but we will mostly have to make do with people who are one thing or
the other — advocates but not administrators, agriculturalists but not
social workers — and dispense with sentimentality about both the quali-
ties and limitations of blind people, either as a group or as individuals.
If this is the case, perhaps it is as well that in one sense at least
far-sightedness is not required; we all know, in general terms at least,
what is needed — more eye care, more education, more training, more
employment possibilities for blind people and, even in the rather
austere world economic climate lack of funds may not be so desperate
that inspired fund-raisers are the main priority. The question for the
future leadership in our work would seem to be how the gap is bridged
between available resources and identified needs.
This is not to say that at present the funds are readily available but I
believe that sound economic arguments are going to produce such
funds more readily than the most inspired and enlightened humane
theory. It is clear that the prevention and cure of blindness have a high
cost/benefit ratio. It is clear, too, that governments much prefer to
receive taxes than pay welfare, and though it is impossible to measure
this accurately, most people would accept that education and training
have a cost/benefit in positive terms both for the individual and the
community. The new leadership at the very least will have to be amateur
economists (and some of them not so amateur at that). Harassed
governments, beset by budgetary limitations may not be able to be
kind no matter how much they would like to be but these same govern-
ments cannot afford to miss the opportunity of increasing production
and, at the same time, reducing the number of people who are an
economic burden.
A field officer working in such a climate like this will do more harm
than good if he only knows how to teach braille or craft, build a school
or an agricultural training centre, unless he either has additional
qualities in the area of politics and economics or unless he has efficient
support in this area from his head office. When I began work in the
Caribbean I came from a background of university political life and
from the v/orld of professional journalism. Even so I theashed and
struggled in the tangled web of more than a dozen different govern-
ments and more than a dozen different agencies for the blind, not to
mention a handful of strident pressure groups of blind people themselves.
Apart from understanding and then trying to resolve problems, some
inevitable, others created for the most short-sighted and selfish of
298
reasons, I had to overcome my own prejudices and those of the people
with whom I worked; there were different political, social and cultural
values to come to terms with ; and not least, there was the problem of
conveying all this back to my headquarters.
The development of new leadership to deal with such a situation
cannot be a one-sided affair — the days of technical assistance are over,
and rightly so, we must begin to take the notion of technical cooperation
seriously. Without losing their compassionate motivation agencies for
the blind must operate on strict business principles, only then can they
demand the same standards of those communities they wish to help.
At the same time, agencies cannot expect to take this so far that they
impose policy on the grounds that they know best (which they may
well) — recipients have the right to make mistakes for themselves and
in the final analysis this may be the quickest learning process there is.
On the other hand, over-sensitiveness to criticism and advice which
disagrees with the views of the seeker of it must be avoided — the
freedom to reject advice cannot exist without the freedom of somebody
else to proffer it.
In spite of all the tensions and complications inherent in our work
this is no time for a retreat into mere philosophizing although we should
be aware of the problems we face. We know what is needed and in
many cases we know, in principle, how to provide it and how to obtain
the funds to provide it. The new leadership in our work must act as
interpreters and to do this they will have to stray far from the languages
of eye care and social welfare. Good interpreters need the best teaching
in each of their languages and this will be true of our future generation —
they will need to know not only the language of economics and politics,
not only the language of medicine and welfare, but also the subtler
language of culture and history and the crude language of poverty and
desperation. All these things cannot be learned in one place, nor
quickly, and we will all have to make allowances for each other.
Advocates of improvement in the lot of blind persons are too weak to
be over-fastidious in judging the shortcomings of others, but the
position of all of us as a group is too weak to permit amateurs, no
matter how well-intentioned, to perform tasks which demand a high
degree of professionalism.
The fact that a great deal of legislation in countries throughout the
world proclaims the rights of all without excluding blind persons means
that we have come part of the way, but that very fact implies that, from
now on we can expect no special favours, nor should we.
299
"COOPERATION IN DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP"
by Ivan Ho. Malaysia
Why there are organizations for and of the blind in Malaysia needs
no further explanations after all these years and especially after having
attended the two General Assemblies of the International Federation
of the BHnd and of the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind in
Antwerp, Belgium. Suffice it to say that the 1960's were turbulent years
for both types of organization. Blind people then merely wanted to
form a group to promote social and recreational activities, help each
other in times of hardship and also to put forward sgugestions for
improving services run by the agency, the Malayan Association for the
Blind (MAB). Leaders of this Agency interpreted the move as belittling
the achievements, questioning their sincerity and the start of a campaign
for taking over that organization. Each one of us won some battles and
lost some and the score: disunity among blind people and the slowing
down of programmes.
It was not difficult in those years to be a leader of the blind movement
except that one must possess the fighting spirit. All that the leaders of
the Society of the Blind in West Malaysia (SBWM) needed to do was
to project MAB as a badly managed agency and to present SBWM as
the champion for the cause of the blind which understood the true
feelings of blind people and their aspirations.
Time flew and attitudes changed, so did support for SBWM. Suddenly
leaders of the blind realized that time was not on their side. Blind
people, even members themselves, were criticizing bitterly the two
organizations for failing to live up to their expectations or to improve
their standard of living and SBWM almost had to dig its own grave.
To shorten a long story, there was a change of leadership in both
organizations at the turn of the I970's and the new leaders decided to
join hands in search of solutions to the numerous obstacles confronting
the blind of the country. MAB accepted the fact that SBWM was there
to stay and each one of us has specific goals to strive for.
Fear and suspicion die hard and cooperation was slow to develop.
So, when the Swedish Federation of the Visually Handicapped proposed
through the MAB, the convening of a Leadership Seminar at Kuala
Lumpur in 1975, blind leaders accepted the invitation to participate
with reservation. We were suspicious that the Swedish Federation
would preach a philosophy contrary to our own since their president,
the late Dr. Charles Hedqvist, was a prominent member of the World
Council. That Seminar proved so successful, useful and stimulating
that SBWM, utilizing the experience gained by some of the participants,
organized the first SBWM Workshop in 1977 in which it examined the
entire set-up of SBWM and drew up a five-year plan. In November
1979 SBWM will be holding another Leadership Seminar, with the
financial support of the Swedish Federation, for 50 members with the
300
objective of training up new leaders to run its four Regional Offices
and allow the present leadership to up-date their techniques.
With the passage of time, satisfactory cooperation has taken place
and today blind people have elected representatives serving on all the
committees of MAB, including the Executive Council. Only two months
back a seat was offered to us on the national delegation to the Sixth
WCWB General Assembly. To some extent the two organizations have
agreed upon the areas of operation : the agency concentrating on the
rehabilitational and vocational fields and the placing of blind people in
open employment while SBWM will look after the social and recrea-
tional needs and general welfare of its members. When dealing with the
public or approaching the various government ministries, we would
consult each other to put out joint press statements or memoranda.
There is still much room for cooperation and we are confident we can
enter into more dynamic cooperative ventures without losing our
identities and sacrificing our principles.
We have entered into a new era for coexistence and cooperation and
we require a kind of leadership that is humble enough to forget past
grievances but bold enough to face the challenges ahead. We need
leaders with foresight and determination to transform ideas into
realities in partnership with any organization with identical objectives.
We require leaders that will look squarely at problems, identify the
priorities and get down to serious work at the shortest time. We need
leaders that have tact and good human relations and who are willing
to hear others points of view. We need leaders that can motivate
members to achieve worthy goals, and we need leaders who are pre-
pared, not only to correct sighted people with wrong attitudes towards
the blind but also that of the blind people towards themselves.
We in developing countries cannot afford the luxury of bickering
over philosophies and arguing as to who best understands the problems
of the blind: give opportunities to the best suited person to prove
his/her abilities. We must utilize all available resources to achieve
maximum benefits within the shortest time and time is one of the
crucial factors in trying to help the millions of blind people in the
Third World.
Finally, all organizations for the blind should recognize the rights
and aspirations of blind people and take positive steps to provide
opportunities for them to play active and responsible roles in deter-
mining their future. There is no better way to begin cooperation than
for organizations for the blind to help the movements of the blind to
develop sound and respectable leadership.
301
MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION
by Robert Mercer, Executive Assistant to Managing Director
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
Let me assume at the outset that most, if not all, of us are here at this
world assembly because in some way or at some time we have displayed
qualities of sound leadership. Given enough time to think we could
even isolate those qualities and give vivid description to each of them.
More often, however, we conclude that we do not have the time, and
that a trained expert has a more complete view, or can describe manage-
ment qualities in some better and more meaningful fashion. It is this
situation that accounts for the dramatic increase in all forms of leader-
ship and management consulting firms. Their real function is often
seriously misunderstood by the students, the sponsor, and sometimes
the instructors themselves.
It is my view that our strongest characteristics to lead and direct
were developed unconsciously by each of us; they are known factors
and emerge very gradually from our many and varied life experiences.
They are the most important qualities and cannot be taught at leader-
ship seminars or found somewhere in the pages of literature on good
management practice. Such tools are only useful when they encourage
self-examination and initiate thinking on the very things that we do
on a day-to-day basis. Qualities of sound leadership are not teachable,
but each of us can be taught to lead more effectively by carefully
examining those characteristics that comprise our many strengths and
weaknesses. It is this recognition that makes leadership training a
worthwhile undertaking. Once we realize the limitation of such in-
struction we also accept the importance of self-reflection.
Simply stated, leadership is the direction or guidance of people and
money. This includes, of course, efforts designed to expand or develop
those resources in a manner whether consistent or not with accepted
objectives. More explicitly, leadership is the one component of opera-
ting that allows for both appropriate and inappropriate utilization of
manpower and capital. Not everyone is equipped for such responsibility
or in fact interested in that form of challenge.
The crucial question for all of us is deciding the best direction for
resources at our disposal. Each decision has some degree of importance
in the overall operation, should not be taken lightly, and must be
consistent with accepted objectives. You will recall my earlier reference
to leadership training and its relationship to self-examination. The
same relationship should be applied to each decision affecting our
operation. Few people have isolated the importance of this principle,
as crucial as it is to sound management practice. In my view there is
nothing more important for making the right decision than constant
self-examination, and careful inquiry into all factors that make any
problem of concern to us as leaders.
302
It should now be apparent that this inquiry process in the field of
rehabilitation and bhndness prevention has very special significance. It
is the crucial factor affecting the lives of other people. How many of
our decisions are political, merely popular, or even chosen because
they are the course of least resistance? At times they are not even
consistent with established objectives. Have you considered as well that
estabhshed objectives may no longer be consistent with the needs of
those who most depend on your good judgment?
You must examine at all times the concept of blindness and blind
people. Are we positive that our last decision was right because no one
complained, or because it came as a general consensus of our staff?
We are not wasting time by addressing such important issues and we
must continue with the inquiry at every opportunity. It is not enough
to conclude that we do not have the time for this kind of reflection on
what we are doing.
It has been well established that agencies for the blind are not
providing needed services, and may on the other hand continue certain
programs which are no longer a matter of priority. How is this possible ?
The most commonly expressed reasons are lack of resources, reluc-
tance to change, "it won't work", and so on. It is interesting to me,
however, that even with adequate resources, wllingness to change, and
a positive outlook, an organization may still experience severe criticism
for not relating adequately to consumer needs. You may wish to
consider the following as possible reasons for such a situation. From
my own experience I would suggest that they are in fact the most
significant reasons :
(1) Leaders are not encouraged, and in most cases do not recognize,
the relevance of self-examination, and yet most decisions are
affected in some way by our personality. We are sometimes
taught to separate our own beliefs from those of the organization,
but is that really possible ?
(2) We seldom stop working to consider the factors around us that
make each problem a possibility. Without this component we
may find ourselves attempting to solve problems based on
assumptions which we do not believe. Time must be spent in
seriously considering the many assumptions surrounding a
problem and the alternatives for decision-making.
(3) Finally, not enough time is devoted to listening to those most
aflfected by our decisions. We must find some better mechanism
to stay in contact with blind people, recognize their equal ability
and provide for their input on matters affecting their lives.
In conclusion, I wish to accept full responsibility for many of the
generalizations made in this paper. Time did not permit proper docu-
mentation, but I do hope that the ideas expressed will cause you to
examine further those factors which influence the direction given to
resources at your disposal. Give more consideration to the complete
picture and the world takes on a different meaning.
303
/
BUSINESS SESSION 3
Thursday morning, August 9, 1979
REPORT OF THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE
Mr. Bengt Lindqvist, Chairman of the Resolutions Committee,
presented 13 Resolutions, which were unanimously adopted by the
Council after some amendments had been made.
RESOLUTION NO. 1
RESOLUTION ON COOPERATION BETWEEN WCWB AND
IFB AND BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS OF AND FOR THE
BLIND
The Sixth General Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of
the Blind commends the eflForts which were made at a joint meeting of
the Honorary Officers of WCWB and IFB held in Bad Berleburg, GFR,
in February 1979 to find a practical means of achieving major progress
towards that level of unity which is necessary in the best interests of all
the blind people of the world.
The Assembly noted the reluctance that has been expressed by the
Third General Assembly of the International Federation of the Blind
to proceed at the present time with active steps that could lead to a
merger of the two world bodies in the foreseeable future.
Nevertheless, the Assembly believes that WCWB should be ready to
respond to any initiative from IFB for the re-opening of negotiations
towards consolidation of the activities of the two organizations within the
spirit of the Bad Berleburg Declaration.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has noted with appreciation the wish of the
International Federation of the Blind to discuss the realization of
practical means of cooperation at the international, regional and
national levels. Accordingly, the Assembly empowers the Executive
Committee to make appropriate arrangements for mutual discussion of
such topics to occur with representatives of IFB, with a view to achieving
the maximum degree of understanding, harmony and practical co-
operation.
It is recommended that the Honorary Officers, the Executive Com-
mittees and the regional bodies of both organizations hold joint
meetings, joint consultations and exchange of information, in order to
promote the greatest good for the blind of the world.
With reference to the Constitution of WCWB stating that "Where in
any country there exists a substantial group of blind persons organized
304
into associations and where there are bhnd persons occupying leading
positions in agencies for the bhnd, adequate provision should be made
for their representation in the national delegation", this Assembly
further instructs the Executive to establish a working group to in-
vestigate and present proposals concerning ways and means which
could lead to increased participation of organizations of the blind on
the national and on all mternational levels. The proposals concerning
the national delegations on the General Assembly of WCWB shall be
based on a quota system giving, wherever possible, at least fifty per
cent of the seats to organizations of the blind.
In countries where there are no organizations for the blind, the
national delegation may consist entirely of the representatives of the
national organizations of the blind.
Recognizing the fact that more than two decades have passed since the
Constitution of WCWB was formulated, with amendments at various
stages, the time is ripe to review the Constitution in the light of develop-
ments that have occurred in global work for the blind, with a view to
making the world body more representative and responsive to different
groups, regions and interests.
It is recommended that the working group referred to above be asked
to take appropriate action.
RESOLUTION NO. 2
RESOLUTION ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR FOR DIS-
ABLED PERSONS
Bearing in mind that the United Nations' general assembly has declared
the year 1981 as lYDP;
Recalling the resolution and recommendations of the international
organizations such as ILO, WHO, ECOSOC on the right for the
handicapped to full participation in the socio-economic and cultural
life of the community ; and
Noting that full integration of handicapped persons into society can
only be achieved by giving them equa' opportunities in education and
employment :
1. With particular reference to the interests of the blind, the General
Assembly of WCWB resolves: that national governments of all
member nations take effective measures to enable blind people to
gain their rightful place in society, and that national organizations
of and for the blind urge their respective governments to take
necessary steps in this direction and create public awareness to
achieve these objectives.
2. The WCWB Assembly notes with satisfaction the increasing active
interest on the part of the United Nations and its various agencies
305
in promoting the cause of the bhnd and urges the United Nations
and its aUied agencies to allocate adequate resources to make the
lYDP achieve the purpose for which it is being observed.
RESOLUTION NO. 3
RESOLUTION ON RURAL REHABILITATION FOR THE BLIND
Appreciating that 80 per cent of the blind, particularly in developing
countries, live in rural areas; and
Recognizing that most of these blind persons do not have access to basic
rehabilitation services, leading to successful economic independence,
social integration and resettlement;
This Assembly recommends
1. that priority be given to the evaluation of existing programs,
research and the development of new and better low cost methods
of rehabilitation service delivery for blind people in rural areas ;
2. that consideration be given to implementing community-based rural
training programs as one plan currently available for providing
rehabilitation services, at the lowest cost, to the greatest number of
blind and visually impaired people;
3. that according to the needs of each country, when suitable facilities
are available and when economically feasible, residential rural
training centres should be established and extension services pro-
vided, including follow-up and resettlement;
4. that in all proposed legislation for agrarian and land reform,
provision should be made to include blind and visually impaired
persons;
5. that efforts should be made to educate public opinion at all levels,
from national leaders and government officials down to local village
citizens, utilizing all available communications media in order to
expand vocational opportunities for the blind in the rural areas;
6. that where farming and employment is on a seasonal basis, additional
skills and handicrafts training should be included in the rehabilita-
tion program in order to increase earning potential throughout the
year; and
7. that international agencies should be encouraged to give priority in
their assistance programs to rural rehabilitation projects.
RESOLUTION No. 4
RESOLUTION ON MOBILITY PROGRAMS FOR THE BLIND
Reaffirming that one of the major goals in the educational and re-
habilitation processes is the development of self-confidence and
independence for every blind person ;
306
Realizing the great importance of orientation and mobility services to
reach that goal ;
Emphasizing that mobility services should be available to all including
the aged and for those in urban and rural areas; and
Recognizing the importance of the use of remaining vision in all aspects
of mobility;
The Assembly recommends
1 . that governments and agencies accept the responsibility of ensuring
that professionally trained mobility instructors are available to all
organizations and establishments providing services for the blind
and visually impaired ;
2. that where practicable, training courses for all staff who teach
rehabilitation and orientation and mobility be established;
3. that in order to ensure that maximum effectiveness is derived from
mobility instruction, education programs be carried out, directed to
the public, in particular the motorists, governments and staff of
those medical care and welfare institutions having a responsibility
to blind persons ;
4. that individual mobility programs take into full account the personal,
psychological and social abilities of each person to be trained ;
5. that administrators of programs for the blind accept the importance
of orientation and mobility instruction in the total rehabilitation
process; and
6. that in developing mobility services all forms of travel assistance for
the blind be encouraged in both urban and rural environments
including canes, guide dogs and electronic devices.
RESOLUTION NO. 5
RESOLUTION ON THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF PHYSICAL
CULTURE AND SPORT FOR THE BLIND
Noting that regular sport encourages rehabilitation and integration of
the blind, improves their self-reliance and self-confidence as well as
being significant in countering the tendency to immobility and isolation
caused by blindness ; and
Expressing willingness to open up the path to sport for as many blind
people of all ages as possible, to promote sport at schools for the blind,
competitive sport, leisure and recreational sport and to set up con-
tinuous international contacts among blind athletes ;
The General Assembly resolves
1 . that all member organizations of the WCWB should pay increased
attention to the problem of sport for the blind and should approach
307
governments, local authorities and the public so that programs for
the all-round advancement of sport for the blind may be developed
and carried out. Those responsible for sport for the blind should
coordinate these activities in close cooperation with the national
sports associations, member organizations of ISOD as well as other
interested institutions and personalities ;
2. that sport at schools for the blind and at sighted schools where blind
students are integrated should be methodically and constructively
supported. Influence should be brought to bear to ensure that sport
is adequately considered in their curricula and has a place in the
time-table, that there is provision for the instruction of specially
trained teachers, that opportunities for sporting activities are offered
also outside lessons, and that individual programs are set up for
multiply-handicapped students ;
3. that competitive sport is promoted and developed. The types of
sport which have proved successful at national and international
le^els are, among others: running short, medium and long distances;
high, long and triple jump; shot, discus, javelin and ball throwing;
types of swimming such as breast stroke, free-style, back-stroke,
butterfly and medley; winter sports in the Nordic and Alpine disci-
plines; water sports with rowing, canoeing and sailing; tandem
cycling; roll ball, tor ball, goal ball and micro-football, bowling and
lawn-balls; wrestling, judo, chess and table-tennis;
4. that recreational sports be introduced on a much larger scale to
blind people of all ages and the multiply-handicapped. The visually
handicapped should be encouraged to pursue their own activities on
a personal basis, specifically in swimming, beach and water games,
boating and paddling, tandem cycling, camping, winter sports,
horse-riding, bowling, cricket, archery, orienteering, jogging, gym-
nastics, dancing, tourism, board and card games;
5. that there should be an extension of international contacts in sport
for the blind because national activities call for the standardizing of
events arising from international contests. Sports Commissions of all
Regional Committees are to be set up for this purpose;
6. that sport for the blind in the developing countries be promoted by
the advanced countries. The responsible officials in the advanced
countries are urgently requested to train experts from the developing
countries and to send out their own experts to the developing coun-
tries to establish sport for the blind. Furthermore, they should
organize the exchange of ideas and provide sports equipment;
7. that in close cooperation with ISOD and including the bhnd athletes
themselves an international sports organization of the blind be set
up if strictly necessary. UNESCO, WHO, IFB, ICEVH, IBCA and
other interested organizations shall be invited to cooperate. The new
international sports organization should be based on the principles
in the International Charter for Physical Education and Sport
adopted at the General Assembly of UNESCO at its 20th Session
on 21st November 1978 in Paris.
308
RESOLUTION NO. 6
RESOLUTION ON THE SITUATION OF BLIND WOMEN
Recognizing that at least half of the blind people of the world are women
and that most of them live in the developing countries where facilities
for their rehabilitation, employment and integration into family and
cultural life are minimal ;
Welcoming the recommendations of the First International Conference
of Blind Women in Belgrade in Novenaber 1975 and the solidarity then
achieved between blind women of many countries; and
Aware that the advancement of the status of blind women is a major
concern both for the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and
the International Federation of the Blind and that both these world
organizations are collaborating to realize the aspirations expressed at
the Belgrade Conference;
The Assembly resolves
1 . that a Standing Committee of WCWB be established to advance the
cause of blind women (mcluding those with serious visual handicap)
with the fullest mandate to motivate Governments, United Nations
agencies and international organizations, and to achieve a sensitive
awareness of the particular needs of blind women including their
integration into society and with special concern for the developing
countries;
2. that this Standing Committee should achieve, internationally,
regionally and nationally, the fullest cooperation with the Inter-
national Federation of the Blind and its component organizations
and should establish effective working relationships with all inter-
national organizations concerned with the rights and needs of women
and with United Nations agencies which have responsibilities for
this subject; and
3. that this Standing Committee should promote, in consultation with
^ IFB, all attainable means of international contact between blind
women including regional meetings and seminars with practical
objectives.
RESOLUTION NO. 7
RESOLUTION ON SERVICES TO BLIND CHILDREN
Recognizing that the children of today are the world's citizens of
tomorrow and also because 1979 is the International Year of the Child,
this General Assembly takes cognizance of the fact that only one in
fourteen blind children in developing countries find themselves and
their parents served by an appropriate development program :
this Assembly considers that is is desirable for the Executive Com-
mittee of WCWB to emphasize the advantages of well-structured
309
early intervention programs and to ensure that a comprehensive
Hbrary of appropriate literature is available to all persons involved
with the training of young blind children.
It is noted with great concern that even the most elementary resources
are lacking in many parts of the world and that there 's a dire need
for closer cooperation between affluent and under-provided societies.
Realizing that practical support is often available while the nature and
extent of the needs and the identity of potential recipients is unknown:
this Assembly urges its Executive Committee to give its immediate
attention to ways and means of providing better coordinated
services to blind children but especially those in developing countries
of the world.
Therefore this General Assembly recommends that the WCWB Execu-
tive Committee establishes a standing committee on services to blind
children. A relationship with ICEVH should be negotiated and to ensure
that the needs of the total child are clearly brought into view, it is
further recommended that a representative of UNICEF be invited to
serve on this Committee and for that organization to provide some
financial support to assist with the development of effective coordina-
ting procedures by which the world's available resources might be
more satisfactorily shared to the eventual betterment of the individual
blind child and his/her family.
RESOLUTION NO. 8
RESOLUTION ON THE PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS
Noting with great satisfaction the progress which has been made during
the past five years with the development of global action for the
prevention of blindness, and particularly the rapid growth of the
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, and the eff'ective
partnership which now exists between that agency and the World
Council ;
Appreciating the priority now given to the prevention of blindness in
the World Health Organization global technical cooperation program,
the establishment by WHO of a specific program for the prevention of
blindness, the allocation of administrative and financial resources
centrally and regionally, the establishment of a representative advisory
group on the program and the outstanding work of that group and its
forces in formulating strategies, defining objectives and developing
appropriate technology ;
Noting also the action for the prevention of blindness taken by UNICEF,
UNDP, FAG, the World Bank, UNESCO and other United Nations
agencies, the emphasis given to the control of blinding malnutrition
during the International Year of the Child, and the resolution of the
United Nations Economic and Social Council on the prevention of
disability ;
310
Appreciating also the establishment of intergovernmental programs for
the prevention of blindness in various regions and the establishment by
an increasing number of developing countries of national plans for
prevention of blindness and the mobilization of substantial funds in
support of such programs, and the creation of a special account for the
prevention of blindness w'thin WHO's voluntary fund for health
promotion;
Noting however with apprehension the revised estimate of the preva-
lence of blindness in the world, the fact that the already massive number
of the world's blind is increasing throughout much of the developing
world at a speed probably in excess of population growth, and that
even in the most advanced countries the link between blindness and
ageing is adding substantially to the number of blind people in the
upper age groups ;
The Assembly resolved
1. that the prevention and cure of blindness shall continue to be a
major objective and priority of the Council which should give all
the support in its power to the activities in this field of WHO and
the other United Nations' agencies and particularly to the work of
the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, through
its representation on the Executive Board and regional committees
of that Agency and by urging all the Council's national delegates to
support the activities of national committees for the prevention of
blindness and efforts to create such committees in countries where
these do not already exist;
2. that in addition to the essential long-term action to control the
major causes of blindness within WHO's global objective "Health
for all by the year 2000", all possible support should begin now to
initiate efforts to restore sight to millions of people needlessly blind
for lack of a cataract operation, to combat trachoma, to remedy
particularly in emergency situations the vitamin deficiency which
can lead to blinding malnutiition, and to extend to the whole affected
area of West Africa the onchocerciasis control program with simul-
taneous action to provide training and employment for blind people
who are resettled in new areas during the progress of the control
program ;
3. that the Council and its national and international members should
take every opportunity to create public and political awareness of the
consequence in human suffering and economic loss of preventable
blindness and through its regional committees should seek to
promote in every region and particularly at an early date in Africa
an intergovernmental program for the prevention of blindness, and
in all developing countries national programs aimed within a time
scale of not more than twenty years at eliminating "the overburden
of avoidable blindness" and at grafting an appropriate technology
of eye care on the basic health services ;
4. that the multi-disciplinary nature of blindness prevention involving
scientists, economic and development planners, communicators,
311
educators and rehabilitation workers should be recognized and
expressed, not only in the multi-disciplinary training courses for the
prevention of blindness which are now being established, but also in
the training of all who are concerned with the administration of
services of and for the blind who should be aware of the techno-
logical possibilities and strategies for controlling blinding disease,
so that they can make their essential contribution to the planning
and implementation of national programs ; and
that the Council recognizes that its task as a world organization
working with its partner organizations in the broadest international
context, is to confront the total problem of bhndness in all its
manifestations and in every place with the eventual complementary
objectives that no one whose sight can be restored or saved should
remain blind, so that maximum resources can thus be concentrated
on assisting the independence and the fulfillment of those who are
unavoidably blind.
RESOLUTION NO. 9
RESOLUTION ON AID PROGRAMMES FOR THE BLIND IN
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Noting that at least 80 per cent of the world's blind live in developing
countries, a number equal to the population of a large country, and
that this number is at present increasing with the speed of the population
growth ;
Appreciating the efforts made by this Council with its national and
international members and by the International Federation of the Blind
to improve services for the blind in the developing world and the
increasing priority being given by various United Nations' agencies to
the needs of the disabled in the Third World ;
Aware, however, that despite these efforts all but a small minority of
the blind of the developing countries continue to live in desperate
poverty without any opportunity at present for education, rehabilitation
and employment or for participation in social and economic life of their
comjnunity ;
Noting with pleasure the replies which have been received from the
heads of many governments welcoming the proposal from the world
organizations of and for the blind for a major advance in this field;
The Assembly resolved
1 . that the needs of the blind of the developing world should be brought
emphatically to the attention of the 34th General Assembly of the
United Nations within the context of the global programme of basic
needs, and as part of the preparation for the International Year for
Disabled Persons, and to the Summit Conference of Non-Aligned
Nations to be held shortly in Havana;
312
2. thai, though there has been a welcome increase over the past five
years in the amount of philanthropic and bi-lateral aid made avail-
able to work for the blind in the developing world, the resources
available for this purpose still fall far short of minimum requirements
and that, in consequence, the Council and its international partners
should make a major effort during the next five years to ensure the
inclusion in all appropriate multi-lateral and bi-lateral aid pro-
grammes of adequate aid for well-devised programmes for the relief
of blindness in the developing world;
3. that all the Council's regional committees should consider the
establishment of an appropriate mechanism to maximize the re-
sources and to channel them into appropriate programjnes for the
blind of the developing world;
4. that the Council and its international partners, working with appro-
priate United Nations' and international agencies should do every-
thing possible to increase awareness of the needs of blind people,
and particularly of blind children who are victims of national
disasters or who are refugees, that the international organizations
concerned with disaster and with refugees should be aware of the
special needs of the blind and of the essential need that a blind
person in such a situation should have the security of his family,
that rehabilitation needs of the blind should be provided for, both
during the emergency period and following resettlement, and
5. that special attention should be given by relief agencies to the
essential needs to ensure that relief supplies are appropriate to the
needs of the blind and particularly that dried milk, provided in
emergency situations, should be adequately fortified with Vitamin A
concentrate to lessen the danger of blinding malnutrition.
RESOLUTION NO. 10
RESOLUTION ON WCWB SUPPORT OF THE ILO BLINDOC
SERVICE
Recognizing the urgent and growing needs of blind and visually im-
paired persons all over the world for suitable programmes of vocational
preparation, opportunities of productive activity in general or protected
environments, and for full social integration into comjnunity life;
Emphasizing that the achievement of these objectives to establish and
develop appropriate rehabilitation services and facilities is promoted
through close cooperation between international, intergovermnental,
govermnental, and non-governmental organizations providing services
to blind and visually impaired persons ;
313
Noting that in the area of vocational rehabihtation of the disabled, the
International Labour Office (ILO) has given strong and worldwide
attention to the importance of all necessary measures to achieve full
social integration, as evidence by its farflung programme of technical
cooperation projects in developing countries, as well as other training
activities, and
Recognizing in particular the high priority accorded by the International
] Labour Office in its rehabilitation programme to the needs of blind
and visually impaired persons, especially through the BLINDOC
information service;
This Assembly is united
— in expressing its full appreciation for the ILO's contribution to the
rehabilitation of blind persons and in urging its continuation and
maximum possible expansion;
— in calling upon all delegations to support these efforts through
increased participation in information exchange on rehabilitation
activities with the ILO BLINDOC Centre;
— and in declaring its general support of international cooperation
in rehabilitation of blind persons, as it is endeavoured within the
overall programme of the ILO and other UN specialized agencies,
and to be given universal emphasis through the International Year
of Disabled Persons.
RESOLUTION NO. 11
RESOLUTION ON THE HELEN KELLER CENTENNIAL
Whereas 1980 is the centennial of Helen Keller's birth;
Whereas this great woman contributed vastly to the lives of blind
people throughout the world ;
Whereas she was a great humanitarian and civil rights activist;
Whereas her character and intellect mark her as a woman of all ages ;
and
Whereas she promoted work for the blind internationally and strongly
believed in the goals of WCWB ;
There, be it resolved that it is requested that all regions and
member countries dedicate events and projects during 1980 to the
celebration of the centennial of Helen Keller's birth.
314
RESOLUTION NO. 12
RESOLUTION ON THE ORGANIZATION OF GENERAL
ASSEMBLIES
Commending the efforts made by the Programme Committee to provide
the fullest possible presentation of blind welfare of today, and
at the same time noting with concern the enormous practical and
economic problems involved in such a large programme;
This Assembly urges the Executive Committee to consider other
programme arrangements which would facilitate the active partici-
pation of the delegates and shorten the length of the conference.
Such arrangements could include a more limited selection of topics
with concurrent sessions in different fields of interests.
In order to improve the possibilities for active and equal participation
by all delegates, this Assembly instructs the Executive Committee to
find ways and means of distributing all papers in ample time before
the Assembly and in a form which will make them accessible to all
participants.
This Assembly also instructs the Executive Committee to seriously
consider an expansion in the number of languages to be used at
general assemblies.
RESOLUTION NO. 13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Sixth General Assembly of the World Council for the Welfare of
the Blind, meeting in Antwerp, notes with satisfaction the earnest
attempts made to hold the Assembly in Nigeria and appreciates the
fact that its meeting there would have been of mutual benefit, both to
the blind people of Africa and to those delegates and observers from
other parts of the world. The Assembly regrets that, due to circum-
stances beyond control, the venue of the conference had to be changed
to Europe. The Assembly hopes that it would be possible for the
World Council to meet in Africa in the near future.
The General Assembly places on record its most sincere appreciation
and thanks to all those concerned for making last minute arrangements
to hold the meeting in Antwerp at very short notice. In particular the
General Assembly expressed its gratitude :
— to the Government;
— to the host organizations for their warm hospitality;
315
to Mr. Dyckmans, Mr. and Mrs. de Wulf, their staff and their
volunteers for leaving no stone unturned for making necessary
arrangements despite lack of time to enable the General Assembly
to hold its deliberations with the minimum possible inconvenience;
to the hotel management and its staff for their arrangements
despite shortage of staff;
to the interpreters for their efficient simultaneous interpretation
and to Mr. Pedro Zurita, delegate from Spain, who voluntarily
took upon himself the responsibility of interpretation, a job
which he performed with the expertise of a true professional ;
to the Secretary-General Anders Arnor and his devoted and
efficient secretariat for carrying out their job so weU despite
considerable practical difficulties, and
to all those innumerable friends who directly and indirectly
contributed to the successful holding of this Sixth General
Assembly.
316
REPORT OF THE STUDY GROUP ON MOBILITY
presented by J. Keith Holdsworth, Chairman
The Study Group met twice during the period of this Assembly but
of course there were many other informal meetings of those mterested
m the subject of mobility.
Discussions ranged from the broadest consideration of mobility as
an essential part of the rehabilitation and educational processes to more
detailed examination of the role of mobility in individual self-develop-
ment.
On the wider aspects of mobility the group strongly reaffirmed that
mobility tuition should continue to be seen as an essential component
of basic rehabilitation and of education.
The necessity for mobility to be provided within the curriculum of
schools was emphasized, in order to ensure that each child had full
opportunity to develop independent movement to the extent of his/her
needs and abilities.
The group did note with some concern that in some countries it
seemed that mobility tuition for pupils was not given adequate attention.
The question of the age at which mobility training should begin was
discussed, as was the type of cane which should be used by children.
The consensus of the group was that it was unwise to nominate any
particular age at which formal training should start, as this depended
upon many personal and other surrounding factors.
For example, mobility tuition for children of pre-school age might
best be given to the parents of the child so that realistic expectations
could be developed by the family and so that appropriate sensory and
movement development could take place from the beginning.
Whilst many children were apparently successfully introduced to
some form of cane travel at 5 or 6 years of age, again the group con-
sidered that the use of the cane should not be introduced to children in
a manner likely to restrict movement and the training should perhaps
be seen as being a way of filling gaps in the child's ability to move
about freely.
At the other end of the age scale, it was noted that in many countries
the majority of blind people are aged and the group re-stated the
necessity for mobility training to be available to all including the aged.
It was recognized that limited mobility for an aged person, even in a
restricted environment, could be as important to the individual as more
extensive mobihty to a younger person.
The group welcomed the continuing expansion of mobility services
utilizing the long cane, but cautioned against the long cane technique
itself being seen and understood as the whole of the mobility process.
Complete mobility was seen by the group as having important com-
ponents of self-understanding and self-development, as well as psycho-
logical and social aspects. Mobility was seen as a matter of total
movement.
317
Thus a high degree of self esteem and high motivation towards
independence were considered to be of major importance in the full
development of individual ability in mobility skills.
The group considered that in all countries the adequate preparation
of staff to teach orientation and mobility was an essential prerequis-te
to the provision of mobility services.
Whilst staff trainmg should always be at the highest level possible,
nevertheless the group recognized the importance of staff training
courses taking into account the needs, values and resources of the
country concerned.
The question of the role of blind people as mobility instructors was
given attention, it being concluded that the blind person with appro-
priate background could make a most valuable contribution to parts of
mobility training where the sight of the instructor was not essential for
safety or to give informational feedback.
The group again stressed the need to ensure that remaining vision
be utihzed to the full in achieving desired levels of mobility skill.
At the same time, however, it was recognized that much remains to
be done in the areas of identifying functional vision and in designing
teaching methods to make the fullest use of remaining vision in mobility.
The place of electronic devices in mobility was also discussed and it
seemed clear that there is some lack at present in the preparation and
dissemination of information concerning the ways in which such
devices have been used, and could be used to advantage.
The Study Group emphasized the necessity for all countries to under-
take public education programs to the general public, particularly
motorists, to governments and to staff of institutions and establish-
ments providing services to the blind.
The objectives of such educational programs should include the
development of understanding and sound expectations about blindness,
blind people and independent mobility.
It was considered by the group to be a clear governmental responsi-
bility to see to it that appropriate staff training courses in orientation
and mobility are established, together with an equal responsibility to
ensure that trained mobility staff are appointed to each institution.
Finally, the issues and considerations of the group were formulated
into a lesolution which was submitted to the Resolutions Committee.
As chairman of the Mobility Study Group, I would like to thank all
who took part in the meetings; we are encouraged by the obvious
growth in mobility services but believe that there is much which yet
remains to be done. This we see as the challenge of the coming five
years before the next General Assembly of WCWB.
318
REPORT OF THE STUDY GROUP ON SECURING FINANCIAL
SUPPORT (INCLUDING FUND RAISING)
presented by Geoffrey F. Gibbs, Chairman
Introduction
We considered this to be an area which has, and will continue to be,
of critical importance to all member countries of WCWB.
It was agreed that methods of securing financial support must hold a
central position in our planning as without there being sufficient funds
available on-going development and the achieving of national and
international goals is not possible.
Being aware that those delegates and observers present represented
countries of greatly different economic, political and cultural under-
standings, we further agreed that methods of approach adopted within
any one nation may not be easily transferred to any other situation.
Nevertheless, the group determined:
International Resources
It was noted that in all probability international levels of funding
will be reduced in the immediate future therefore in order to avoid
increased competition for funding of programmes specifically concerned
with blindness prevention and services for the blind, planners should
take advantage of those more general programmes off'ered by the
World Bank, UNESCO, the EEC and kindred bodies.
Planners must also be prepared to recognize that in their deliberations
decision makers are increasingly likely to emphasize economic rather
than purely humane considerations.
International Agencies
The International members of WCWB should be congratulated for
their rapidly increasing ability to raise and direct funds, particularly in
view of the ever-present effects of inflation. In this connection, the
expenditure of increasing time and eff'ort by the International Service
Organizations such as Rotary International and Lions International
Foundation is extremely encouraging.
Government Support
Governments which accept proper responsibility for their blind
citizens are encouraged to ensure that this commitment is not eroded
by increasing economic difficulties and where such a commitment has
not been matched by action WCWB delegates must bring every pressure
to bear for the benefit of blind people in their own country and
throughout the world.
319
Further, where general legislation exists setting out the rights of
citizens, its application to blind persons should be reflected in immediate
programmes rather than long term negotiations.
Agency Fundraising
In defining and promoting fundraising causes the dignity of the blind
population must be respected as must the expectation of donors who,
in today's world require more detals as to the manner in which their
contributions are to be utilized.
Cooperation
We considered WCWB has the capability and the responsibility to
provide an advisory and development service to assist its membership
in determining appropriate means of securing continuing financial
support.
We recommend this General Assembly take the initiative by estab-
lishing such a group as a sub-committee of the WCWB Finance
Committee to provide guidance in this area.
This Committee should:
(a) establish a library of fundraising procedures utilized by Inter-
national, Regional, National, Governmental and Non-govern-
mental agencies.
(b) it should during the next quinquennium provide at least one
article on fundraising procedures in every issue of the WCWB
Newsletter.
320
REPORT OF THE STUDY GROUP ON LOW VISION AIDS AND
THE MAXIMIZATION OF RESIDUAL VISION
This group met under the chairmanship of Dr. Carl Kupfer and had
a general discussion against the background of the action which has
resulted from Resolution 13 of the Sao Paulo Assembly and, parti-
cularly, the Working Conference at Uppsala University last year which
developed from the Geneva Meeting in 1975 of the Committee on
Rehabilitation, Training and Employment.
The group agreed totally with the guidelines prepared at that Con-
ference and the special emphasis which was there laid on individual
variations in the requirements for low vision aids and on the need for
an exact diagnosis and correct follow-up. However, the importance of
this subject cannot be over-emphasized, having regard to the fact that
if an adequate definition of visual handicap is employed, it is likely
that over 80 per cent of those registered as visually handicapped will
have residual vision.
In the past, possibly through lack of technological development,
but also through a failure to understand the potentials of people with
residual vision, there has been excessive emphasis on applying to all
registered blind people, techniques which assume total loss of sight.
One of the consequences has been a lack of individual motivation to
use residual vision and an absence of sufficient research and develop-
ment to produce an alternative technology.
This group therefore, whilst fully supporting the work which has
proceeded to-date, wishes to see a continued effort by the World
Council, its Research Committee and the ICEVH to develop, as an
integral part of educational, rehabilitation and training programmes,
an adequate technology and the appropriate professional personnel to
apply it.
Specific proposals discussed by the group included:
— the need for further research in diagnosing potential residual vision
— more adequate assessment and evaluation of low vision aids,
noting their increasing number and cost.
— the development of a simulated environment, on the lines of
simulated cockpit trainers used in the aviation industry, in
which low vision aids could be evaluated against individual
variation in visual acuity and field.
— and the development of a new professional category of low vision
specialist.
321
REPORT OF THE STUDY GROUP ON RESEARCH IN
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE AS RELATED TO BLINDNESS
Chairman: Dr. Nils Trowald, Sweden
Summary
The group had two meetings, the first one attended by about 30
people and the second by about 10.
During the first meeting, Dr. Trowald gave a summary of different
research activit'es going on in Scandinavia, Great Britain, the Soviet
Union, Japan, France, the German Democratic Republic, the Federal
Republic of Germany and the USA. The presentation was based on the
report Blindness Research in the World — as presented at the ICEVH
Conference in Paris 1977, written by research people from the above-
mentioned countries and edited by Dr. Trowald. The report was given
to all members of this Study Group.
The research which was presented and discussed referred to the
following fields :
(a) Mobility and different methods to evaluations mobility techniques
(b) Development psychology and research about comparisons between
blind and sighted children
(c) Talking books and studies on this aid, for example compressed
speech and other methods to help the listener to a more effective
learning
(d) Braille and methods used to analyse the reading behaviour
(e) Low vision training and methods used to study eye movements
during training
(f) Psychological and pedagogical evaluations of technical aids, for
example typewriters of Jumbo-type, the laser cane, etc.
(g) Partially sighted and methods to increase their chance to read
printed matter, for example with the help of better typography.
We finished the first meeting after a discussion.
During the second meeting of this Study Group, we discussed
proposals to be considered during Business Session 3. The group
wanted to stress WCWB's attention to the importance of Blindness
Research in those fields and presents the following proposals :
The Study Group would like WCWB to
(1) Inform university institutes all over the world that there is a need
for research in the field of blindness. The organization in different
countries shall support all kinds of research that has reference to
the blind.
(2) Encourage and work for the publication of research results.
(3) Encourage and work for the organization of meetings for research
people from different countries.
322
BUSINESS SESSION 4
Thursday afternoon, August 9, 1979
REPORT OF THE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
Election of Honorary Life Members
Captain H. J. M. Desai, Chairman of the Nominations Committee,
submitted to the approval of the Assembly, a proposal which he felt
sure would be very warmly received, namely that the President, Mr.
Boris V. Zimin, who had served the Council so well during his mandate,
be appointed an Honorary Life Member. This proposal was agreed
unanimously.
A proposal based on correspondence with National Delegations,
the the following should also be elected to Honorary Life Membership
of the Council, was also adopted unanimously :
Mr. Andre NicoUe, France
Mr. Achille Dyckmans, Belgium
Mr. E. W. Christiansen, New Zealand.
The Chairman of the Nominations Committee then proposed the
following nominations, to which the Council AGREED unanimously :
(a) Members of the Executive Committee Nominated by their
Respective Regions:
Africa
Mr. Ismaila Konate (Mali)
Mr. Moustapha Djelloul
(Algeria)
Mr. George Ondieki (Kenya)
East and South East Asia
Mr. Suresh C. Ahuja (India)
Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi (Japan)
Miss Winnie Ng (Malaysia)
Dr. (Mrs.) Mary S. Lee (Korea)
Mr. Monsur Ahmed Choudhuri
(Bangladesh)
Europe
Dr. Horst Geissler (FRG)
Mr. Andre Nicolle (France)
Dr. Helmut Pielasch (GDR)
Dr. Roberto Kervin (Italy)
Mr. Arne Husveg (Norway)
Mr. Pedro Zurita (Spain)
Mr. Vassili Fedorenko (USSR)
323
Middle East
Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim
(Saudi Arabia)
Mr. Nihad Murad (Syria)
North America and Oceania
Mr. Ross C. Purse (Canada)
Mr. John Wilson (Australia)
Mr. Loyal E. Apple (USA)
Mr. Jerry Dunlap (USA)
Mr. Oral O. Miller (USA)
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mrs. Elisa Molina de Stahl
(Guatemala)
Mr. Hernando Pradilla-Cobos
(Colombia)
Mr. Geraldo S. de Andrade
(Brazil)
(b) Members of the Executive Committee Nominated by International
Members of the Council :
Mr. Harold G. Roberts, Helen Keller International Inc.
Sir John F. Wilson, C.B.E., Royal Commonwealth Society for the
Blind
(c) Members at Large on the Executive Committee:
Mr. Eric T. Boulter, C.B.E.
Captain H. J. M. Desai
Mr. Stevo Vladusic ' "
(d) Chairman of Consultative Committee :
Mr. Wolfgang Stein, International Council for Education of the
Visually Handicapped . , ■ ^ :.';:
(e) Honorary Officers:
President: Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill
Immediate ■ ■ ■■
Past President: Mr. Boris V. Zimin •
Vice-Presidents: Mr. Ismaila Konate (Africa)
Mr. Hideyuki Iwahashi (East and South-
East Asia)
, , ,• Dr. Helmut Pielasch (Europe)
:' , '. ■ Sheikh Abdullah M. Al-Ghanim (Middle
East)
Mr. John Wilson (North America and
Oceania)
Mr. Hernando Pradilla Cobos (Latin
■ America and the Caribbean)
Honorary ,,: , ; ,
Secretary-General: Mr. Anders Arnor ^i •
Honorary Treasurer: Mr. J. C. Colligan, C.B.E. ;
(f ) Representatives of the Joint Working Party on WCWB/IFB
Cooperation:
Mr. Boris V. Zimin .■
Mr. Eric T. Boulter, C.B.E.
Mr. Oral O. Miller
324
CLOSING SESSION
Friday morning, August 10, 1979
Chairman: Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill
Speech of the Retiring President — Mr. Boris Zimin
Allow me, please, to say a few words after the excellent work that
our General Assembly has done. This is especially difficult today
because in the course often days we have talked a lot, we have discussed
a lot and we have dealt with most of our important problems but allow
me to share with you two important thoughts which I think are of
extreme importance to us.
We can say, with full conviction, that during the past five years our
World Organization has done tremendous work. The past quin-
quennium has been a quinquennium of growth of our organization,
growth in activity and in membership. During this five-year period,
our organization has seen a very significant increase in the activity of
our Regional Committees. This is also true as far as our Standing
Committees are concerned and this is also valid for our cooperation
and sharing in the activities of the International Agencies. The Honorary
Officers, the members of the Executive Committee, the National
Members have increased their involvement and their participation in
the work of the World Council. We can say that the democratic
participation has seen a tremendous increase during these five years;
we can say that our ship, our ship which we call the World Council for
the Welfare of the Blind, is sailing forward and is going ahead with
strength and security.
The resolutions we have endorsed are a sort of working programme
for our organization and we can find guidelines for the further ex-
pansion of our activity. This is what I wanted to say to you in order to
make very short the overview of past and future work of our organiza-
tion.
The second aspect I should like to share with you is the question of
the philosophy of our organization — the philosophy of cooperation.
I think it is most important that we have a very clear idea about this
specific matter. When we talk about cooperation, some people under-
stand cooperation with the International Federation of the Blind. I do
not think this is correct. I think we should try to strengthen and
enhance our cooperation to a higher level. I personally understand
cooperation in the sense of cooperation with all organizations, all
governments, all international governmental organizations, the non-
governmental organizations and all the personalities who, in one way
or another, are employed in work for the blind. We must admit,
however, that cooperation with the International Federation of the
Blind is one of the most important aspects of this matter.
325
I would like to draw your attention to the model of our World
Council. The model of our World Council is a good reflection of true
cooperation of different organizations which are represented in it. In
the World Council we have representatives from national organizations,
from organizations of and for the blind, we have observers, we have
government representatives. This type of representation and coopera-
tion has helped us in making and creating a very positive and fruitful
atmosphere for our work. I think we must preserve the rights of all the
organizations and institutions concerned to bring their contribution,
to bring their httle drop, to the overall work of our organization.
As far as the work of our World Council is concerned, I could tell a
lot of things. I could refer to the activities of our late President, Dr.
Hedkvist. I always agreed with him on the main views. We were of the
opinion that, taking into account the present situation of the world, the
present degree of development, we could not approach the solution of
our problems in an absolute way. It is absolutely necessary that we
cooperate with governments, with research institutions and so forth.
For instance, we could never reach an adequate result as far as preven-
tion and cure of blindness is concerned if we did not cooperate with
ophthalmologists; we could not solve the problems of technical aids if
we did not cooperate with technologists and engineers; we could not
solve the problems of education if we did not cooperate with educators
and educationalists. We cannot solve the problems of the bhnd without
the participation and active cooperation of the national governments
and in this whole context the voice of the blind has an adequate place
to declare and express the needs and aspirations of the blind people
of today. The World Council is an exceptional platform for the co-
operation we have described but we also have to concern ourselves
with the possible unification and unity of the world social movement
of the blind and in this context cooperation with the International
Federation of the Blind has a special importance. We have sincerely
sought this approach to cooperation and this was expressed in the
document from Bad-Berleburg. Unfortunately, the time for this
approach, for the coming together, has been postponed for reasons
that are beyond our control and we will have to devote a lot of time to
attain better understanding and more positive cooperation. If our
friends from the International Federation of the Blind consider that the
time is not yet right for such getting together, let us accept that the time
has not yet come. I think we should devote a lot of eflTort to smooth the
controversy and the rivalry between organizations of and for the blind ;
there is no reason for such conflict as far as the two organizations are
concerned. Each one makes its positive and necessary contribution
and we could not do without one or the other. I think that the elimina-
tion of these conflicts at a national level would also ehminate the
controversy at an international level. I think we all should agree that
the philosophy of the World Council is a correct one and I appeal to
all of you to preserve our World Council for the Welfare of the Blind.
We must preserve this type of work in a loyal way so that both organiza-
tions of and for the blind, institutions and all people concerned in work
for the blind, can have a means and platform for communication.
326
And finally, I want to thank all of you for the pleasant and en-
couraging words which have been addressed to me during these days
and very especially yesterday. To all of you who have been with me
during the past five years, to all of you who have worked closely with
me, we have carried out excellent work but we have carried it out
together — I with you and you with me. I want to express my satisfaction
for the fact that we have been able to elect, in such a unanimous way,
our new President, Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill. We all lay great
hopes in her and I want to tell her today, with wholehearted sincerity,
that I, and all of you, are ready to cooperate with her to the best of our
ability. I want to wish Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill a lot of success.
I want to wish success to all of you and I want to wish success to our
World Organization. Thank you all very, very much.
327
Speech of the newly-elected President— Mrs. Dorina de Gouvea Nowill
Mr. Boris Zimin. our President for a few moments yet. Ladies and
Gentlemen, I have already thanked all of you for your confidence in
bringing me here for this very important task as President of the
World Council for the Welfare of the Blind and I will do my best to
follow the magnificent examples that we have had from Eddy Baker
and Boris Zimin.
I realize that I am not here to command — I am here to guide. I am
here to work and I need your help and your advice to be able to fulfil
my task. Our President has just told us about the main points in the
philosophy of the work of the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind. He has already told us about the theme of our Sixth General
Assembly — Cooperation. Believe me, I can, at this very important
moment of my life, commit myself to work for the full participation of
all of us involved in the education, rehabilitation and welfare of and
for the blind. Cooperation requires full participation; full participation
depends a lot on inter-relationship ,and inter-relationship should always
be obtained at all levels of our work — international, regional and
national. We, as members of the World Council for the Welfare of the
Blind, are a small world that reflects the immense universe. We are an
amalgamation of cultures, languages, political and religious beliefs. Our
answer to the problems of the blind has to be based upon universal
concepts and activities which have to be feasible to all cultures, to all
regional needs and to all specific needs of blind people in the world.
We have diff'erent and intricate paths, but they should all combine
together to constitute a broad, open and ample avenue. We are diff'erent,
but we are all human beings and I am sure that, inside each of us, there
is always an ideal that will guide our steps.
This Assembly has given us guidelines on thirteen resolutions which
have been approved by all of us. I believe that we will all be faithful
to these resolutions although many changes may occur during their
application to the real needs of blind persons. We have in our hands, a
team of workers — honorary officers, executive committees, permanent
standing committee, regional committees — and I believe that with this
team we have to be able, we will be able, to put forward everything
that has been expressed at this Assembly, perhaps in different languages,
perhaps in diff'erent ways, perhaps with diff'erent methodologies but
that which has been expressed by a majority. I am sure that all of us,
at this moment in time when we are about to return to our own coun-
tries with all that we have learnt, have only one aspiration — that we
will cooperate and that participation will be allowed to everybody,
because we all need it. We must cooperate to prevent blindness and to
cure blindness ; we must cooperate to educate blind children and make
culture available to all blind people; we must cooperate in the field of
rehabilitation because every blind person should have a share in work
in order to be able to have full participation in the community. I have
328
based my life — my private life and my working life — on one thing: I
have a firm, undestroyable belief in human beings and it is with this
belief that I am starting to work now as your President and I hope — I
am sure — that I will be even more firm in my belief at the end of this
next five years.
Finally, let us base our participation on partnership — partnership of
blind persons with sighted persons, partnership of organizations of the
blind and organizations for the blind, partnership of professionals and
partnership with volunteers. We all have, at the same time, a duty and
a right to participate in all the activities of the World Council for the
Welfare of the Blind.
In conclusion I would ask you, as I ask myself, in every minute of
our work to remember first of all that we have to be faithful to blind
children, we have to be true to blind youth and we have to be respectful
and lovable to blind elderly people.
The President then declared the Assembly closed.
329
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1979 PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORLD
ASSEMBLY... 197 9...
(n.d.)
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I Horld Council f/t Welfare o/t
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PROCEEDINGS OF THE WORLD
ASSEMBLY... 1979... (n.d.)
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